Gossip

Imagine this.

You live in a beautiful house in a beautiful community. Probably not comparable to Beverly Hills but it makes you happy to live there. it is an upscale county with its own sports club. All your neighbors are accomplished and professionals: doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, etc. The company where you are working is just 5 minutes drive. But most of all, your community is complete. There is a market nearby where you can buy all the things that you need. There is a good school where your children can go to. And there is a church.

The church looks awesome. The chapel is breathtaking. Its architectural design is great but not imposing. The pews are soft and comfortable. Its has heater and AC. And it is recognized in the whole christendom as a church with a high tithing. In fact, it supports minor churches of other villages.

But you dread going to that church.

You dread going to that church because you don't feel you are part of that church. You really cannot feel any sense of belongingness.

(Don't worry. I won't tell you how wrong you feel. Your feeling may be unjustifiable but it is still valid as all other feelings are. )

Probably, you are thinking of what other parishioners are thinking as you march to the only vacant pew which is in front. Here are some of them:

"Hey, have you heard that she's seeing a psychotherapist now. She must really be insane."

"Do you know that her son was apprehended last night while having a pot session? I pity her for having a wretched family."

"I saw her last night and she is dating a boy twenty years younger than her. What a cradle snatcher!"

And so on and so forth.

If you feel and think that way I am sure that the sinful woman in Luke 7: 36-50 can relate with you.

The sinful woman entered the house of a pharisee where righteous and successful pharisees were feasting (vv. 36-37). Jesus was there.

I guess that the sinful woman also dreaded going to that soiree. He was thinking that righteous people there will just talk about her condescendingly. And she was right! (v. 39) They were really gossiping about her.

Did it stop her from going there? No. She went there and did what she wanted to do. And that is to worship Jesus (vv. 37-38).

Surely, Jesus knew how the sinful woman felt. And probably He tried to allay that feeling by dealing with the issue right away. He did it by telling the story about the moneylender (vv. 40-47).

And Jesus is telling you know what Jesus told that sinful woman, "Your sins are forgiven." (verse 48).

So, when you are hesitating to go to a place of worship because of what others might be thinking.

When you don't feel accepted when you walk down the isle to sit in that vacant pew.

When you feel that all eyes are on you as the pastor delivers his 3-point sermon.

Look to that cross at the altar and hear what Jesus is telling you...

"Your sins are forgiven."