THE LAST RIVER MILE

We define so much of life by being on the inside or striving to be on the inside. Those on the inside belong; those on the outside do not. Insiders are wealthy and powerful; outsiders are not. Insiders are beautiful, favored, and popular; outsiders are not. In some ways we see this as blueprint for all of reality. The challenge of existence is to get and to stay on the inside, and to keep a distance from the unfortunate (less-than) people on the outside. We can have compassion for and even pity on outsiders, but we want to keep then at arm’s length. Their very existence reminds us of the vital importance of fighting to stay on the inside.

This unchecked insider/outsider presumption impacts even those who claim to follow Jesus. We assume that Jesus’ primary job was/is to give us a ticket to the inside. Even if we start with the truth at all of us have made ourselves outsiders (Romans 3:23), we jump quickly to inside/outside thinking. There are those who are saved and those who aren’t. There are those who are going to heaven and those who aren’t. There are those whose doctrines and theologies are right, and those who aren’t. While there is a grain of truth to all of this, it’s dangerous as an operating principle. As long as we’re thinking insider/outsider, we even reshape the core of the gospel: the execution and the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was killed by sinners, we believe; by those clearly on the outside. (As an extreme, this thought process has led to the suffering and death of millions of Jewish people through the centuries.)

The testimony of Jesus himself sends shockwaves through the insider/outsider thinking we fail to challenge. First, it was not the insiders who killed Jesus, not the outsiders. The approved leaders of the faith engineered it. Those obedient to religious laws and practice did it. Those sincerely believing that they were protecting faith in God did it. Government officials defending both Roman and Jewish law and order did it. Those on the inside by any and all accepted definitions defined Jesus as a dangerous outsider who needed to be eliminated.

Second, Jesus himself rocked the very foundations of insider/outsider presumptions. His entire inner circle was made up of outsiders. He made outsiders the heroes of his teaching parables. (See Luke 10:25-37, Luke 15:11-32, Luke 18:9-14 as just a few examples.) He warned that we would be surprised by those outsiders who would end up in the Kingdom. (Matthew 21:31.) Jesus regularly challenged insider/outsider categories. And it tended to be those in the outside categories who were drawn to him.

Finally, the first century movement of following Jesus created scandal by openly breaking down insider/outsider barriers. Slaves gathered with owners. Women were welcomed to worship alongside men. Jewish people stood hand-in-hand with non-Jews whom they were taught to avoid all their lives. Those officially regarded as “sinners” joined with those recognized as “saints.” In Christ there was no inside and outside. (Galatians 3:28.)

Jesus said the truth would set us free. He also said that he is the truth. Sometimes the truth pulls the rug out from under that which we assume can’t be challenged. Just something to think about…

I’ll see you around the next bend in the river.