No. 2 Value of the Gathering of Misfits

Introduction

It amazes me, at times, how what I hear from my favorite YouTube Bible preachers speaks to what I’m writing in my novels. This morning, I listened to Tim Mackie of the Bible Project speak to the No. 2 Value of the Gathering of Misfits.

This Summer of 2024, I am working almost exclusively on three novels about this community of believers. This group of followers of Jesus is made up of ex-cons, ex-gang members, former prostitutes, a bi-sexual, even a pedophile. These misfits of society, though unacceptable to church people, are repentant believers, siblings in the Father’s household, citizens in the Kingdom.

Loyalty to King Jesus

The No. 1 value of this Gathering of Misfits is the lordship of King Jesus over their individual and corporate lives. They seek to follow the ancient Hebrew writings and the teachings of the new covenant with God as written in Greek. These have been collected and translated into the English Bible. They try to understand the mentality of the ancient Hebrew and Jewish writers in their descriptions of God’s truths and will. These Misfits avoid church culture to live as they believe God really wants for His people.

One of the basic teachings of Jesus when He lived on Earth was to be non-judgmental, to avoid contempt for others.

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. (Matthew 7:1-5)

Jesus wants His followers to imitate the Father, Who holds out loving arms, recognizing the value and potential of those who turn to His ways – His reign in their lives. The wastrel son of Luke 15:11-32 was a stinking mess. He’d been surrounded by the pigs he was assigned to feed. (Such unclean animals!) He was gaunt and carried the odor of starvation. Yet, the father ran to him, embraced him (making himself unclean!), and called for clothing to cover his uncleanness. The father didn’t call for a bath to cleanse the son first!

No Pearls in Front of Pigs

This is the third value of the Gathering of Misfits.

Do not give what is holy to dogs—they will only turn and attack you. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs—they will only trample them underfoot (Matthew 7:6).

Do not share Kingdom truths with those who don’t want to hear them. They will respond violently to challenges to the strongholds that protect them. Rather than a besieging army bent on tearing down walls, be to them an ambassador of peace. Offer them help with whatever problems they want fixed. Bring Kingdom solutions to their problems. Show them the love, acceptance, the recognition of their value and potential from the Kingdom’s perspective. Offer them the benefits of following Jesus. Survey their assets and ask what they want changed. Help them process how to change. Help them with the process of change.

In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Since “God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent.” (Romans 2:4)

Instead, use the principles of Asset-Based Community Development.

Tai Chi of Spiritual Warfare

In the third novel, Dr. Chris teaches Tai Chi self-defense to a group of women being sheltered from abuse. He teaches the values of

relaxation and breathing in God’s Wind (Holy Spirit) in trust
flowing with the attack instead of opposing it
staying connected to the attacker to redirect it away from oneself
pulling the attack down instead of striking it away as in kung fu.

Apostle Joe Laird observes this teaching and practice and combines them with the principles of spiritual warfare. He teaches the Tai Chi way of responding to verbal attacks.

Questions

Can you accept – even embrace – repentant believers, though they might stink of their previous, foul activities? Are you able to celebrate their turning to Jesus before rushing them to bathe away the smells?

Can you accept – even teach – the godly values of pagan Tai Chi?