Jesus ate with sinners of his time. He was with tax collectors. They were called “sinners”.

Do you know that in 1999 during Clinton’s presidency many well-known church and Christian organization leader didn’t want to join the prayer breakfast? It is not because of Clinton. It was because of Arafat. They decided to boycott the breakfast.

Here is the reason why they didn’t join and boycott the breakfast.

“Randy Tate, executive director of the powerful Christian Coalition lobby group, announced he would boycott the event because attending “would provide legitimacy to an unrepentant terrorist who has the blood of thousands on his hands.”

http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/02/04/prayer.breakfast/

(Yes, CNN might be not very nice source for you but the quotation of Randy Tate. Randy can sue them, if it is wrong)

They call Arafat “unrepentant terrorist”. I am not lawyer of him, and I will not discuss whether he is a good man or a bad man. I am sure he is as sinner as everybody.

I would like you to pay attention to the attitude of this certain evangelical movement in USA and compare it what our Lord Jesus Christ said and done in his ministry.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said on the cross “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us to be merciful because we all are as sinner as the others. Our Lord didn’t sit and eat with sinner because their life was alright for Jesus, he went to them because he knew they need the salvation. He went to them to bring the light into their life.

He called us to be salt and light, too. (Matthew 5:13-16)

Meanwhile Pharisees judged the sinner because they thought they are righteous people, they believed they do things in a right way so that God loves them more than these sinners.

Pharisees didn’t feel the need of God’s mercy because they thought they deserve the best by their own way.

We can read it on Luke 18:10-14

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

What does all look like? Can we see any similarity?

What is the reason which hinder them to join?

They have an agenda. They are dispensationalist. They focus on political power and build a state in Middle East.

Their focus is not on Jesus and his teaching. Jesus is a tool in their hand to gain more power in the US society.

What does Jesus call us to? Having a political agenda? Or being salt and light?

Randy Tate explained why they wouldn’t join the breakfast. Who is Randy Tate? He and Pat Robertson worked together. Randy was the head of the Christian coalition for a time.