The Right Approach

“Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” - Luke 7:47

We live in an age of availability and information.  Through text message, I can simultaneously communicate to anyone, anywhere, and at any given moment.  Thorough Facebook, I can know your life’s story (if you chose to tell it) simply by clicking a mouse.  Through the use of the internet I can learn about: Sir Walter Raleigh, Jane Austin, and Gandhi; in about thirty minutes.   One would think, with so much information and methods of communication afforded to us, we would be closer than ever as a human race, but oftentimes the opposite is true, we are just as guarded and segregated as we ever were.  We are divorced from the sufferings of our fellowman and numb to the simplistic call of Christ.  Perhaps it is not in the channel of communication, but the approach to communicate. 

            In Jesus’s day, the Pharisees were the religious elite.  They held the high seats, wore the best robes, and only associated with those who were like them.  The church continually faces a consistent temptation to become Pharisaical.  When Jesus came on the scene some of them sought this man out, not as though he was the Son of God, but as though he was an equal.  Simon was such a Pharisee (Luke 7), he went so far as to invite Jesus to his home, but the manner in which he approached Christ is not unlike many today (perhaps even some reading now).  He gave him no kiss (a customary greeting), he gave him no basin to wash his feet (a kind gesture of that day).  He approached Jesus, yes, but he did it in a guarded and careful manner.  Essentially, he said to his peers, himself, and Christ: “Let there be no mistake, I am intrigued by you, but not invested in you.”  Now, while they spoke, a women, a sinner, comes up to Jesus and begins to bath his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair (how awkward this must have been for her and those around her); she then proceeds to anoint his head with oil.  How we approach Jesus Christ can determine the destiny of our immortal soul.  How we approach Jesus Christ is a matter of life and death.  Simon the Pharisee saw him as an equal and one that could be accepted or dismissed, he was guarded and full of care towards Jesus.  The women didn't care what anyone thought about her, she was not worried about what others would say or think; she approach Jesus recklessly, fanatically, and completely.  She wasn't just intrigued by him, she was invested, abandoned, and totally devoted to Jesus Christ.  He was her salvation and she treated him as such.    

            We cannot approach Christ like a research paper.  We cannot get to know him by looking at his Facebook (even if he had one).  You cannot communicate with him via text, that is to say, I will bash out a little message every now and again while I surf the web, eat my dinner, and watch TV.  A Google search, and a quick Wikipedia read won’t cut it, and just a visit once a week to your local church will not suffice.  The Bible teaches us that for Christ to forgive and save your soul you must come as the women.  You must approach Christ wholly, completely, entirely, with no regard for the cost or the shame that it may bring you.  You must, I must, we must, love much.  In this is the key to salvation, and the approach that will bring it to pass.