The ride is great BUT the destination is important
How did we get here? The American Motor Cycle Association (AMA) was founded was founded in 1924 as a motorcycle promotional agency of motorcycles manufactured in the USA. In order to promote motorcycle riding the AMA's sponsored motorcycle riding events and sanctioned regional clubs that rode together. As the story goes, in 1947
In Hollister California A member of the booze fighters motorcycle club made the headlines and life magazine
With an exaggerated news article about some rebellious motorcycle riders that was later made into a popular movie starring Marlon Brando called the wild ones. The ANA, wanted to protect their positive public image, wrote an article in their magazine shortly after this stating that 99% of all AMA members were law-abiding citizens and only 1% were outlaws. Some clubs rejected the clean-cut image promoted by the AMA, and started their own clubs separate from the AMA authorization and recognition. These new clubs adopted the term 1% as a badge of honor. Overtime within the biker world, the term 99% earlier was adopted to designate a law abiding MC and 1% or to describe an outlaw MC. Such is history.
The outlaw clubs became a society with in a society, with their own rules own code of conduct, your own ways of reacting to the world. The culture is kind of like entering a boomtown front tier city on the edge of the wilderness in the wild West. You were going to encounter strange new forms of life that you didn't know existed. It's not a place for the squeamish, tourist, the easily offended, or the stupid. In the words of a 1% or, if you're going to be stupid, you better be tough.
What would Jesus think of 1%ers ?
Fortunately we don't have to guess. Jesus told a parable using these exact same percentages; 99 and 1.
Before looking at the parable first begin by looking at who Jesus told the parable too.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near Jesus to listen to him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble saying, this man received sinners and eats with them. Luke 15; 1-2
Jesus told the parable to the pharisees, scribes, elders and deacons the clean, law-abiding respectable religious leaders who didn't like him hanging out with the dirty rebellious 1%ers. The religious leaders were kind of like some Christian motorcycle clubs or ministries who will not wear their colors or show up at biker events where alcohol is served, for fear of having their clean public image tainted. Even many of our churches, you know, the what will people think? crowd.
However, we need to be careful here. We tend to glamorize and romanticize cheeses hanging out with tax collectors and sinners. We like that Jesus pursued, eight with, and went into the homes of people despised by decent people. Jesus even made a 1%er one of his 12 apostles Luke 5:27. 1%ers know what it is like to be judged and rejected by respectable society. But before you run around telling people that if Jesus were alive today that he would be a biker hanging out with people just like me, you need to understand who the tax collectors were. They probably were not people just like you.
Jeering the time of Christ, Israel was occupied by a foreign turnaround Nicole and oppressive government; Rome. The tax collectors were Jews that the Romans hired to collect taxes in Israel. Therefore, the Jewish tax collectors were traitors to their own country and people. The term selling outs, who were eating and abetting the enemy comes to mind. These tax collectors also would collect much more tax than Rome required, and therefore pocket the rest. So add extortionists to their list of virtues. One more thing; the tax collectors also acted as government informants for Rome. They kept the Roman government in Israel informed of all commercial activity, political unrest, and day today activity in order to enhance and protect their own lucrative position. So in short, these tax collectors were traitors, extortionists, and squealers. Would you be seen hanging out with these types? Would you welcome them into your club? Does anybody have a soft spot in their heart for the IRS? My point is that Jesus hung out with people that know patriotic 99%er or hell raising suspicious 1%er would tolerate. How do you like Jesus now?
To confront the mindset of this religious crowd, Jesus told a parable about a shepherd and some sheep.
3- So he told them this parable, saying, 4- what man among you, if he has 100 sheep and has lost one of them Comre does not leave the 99 in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? Luke15:3-4
What can we learn about God in the parable?
God grieves over lost sinners. The 85% of society that sees no need of God's love and hope.
The shepherd was grieved over one lost sheep. Just one. Gods predominant attitude towards lost people is more one of grief then anger. God values every person because all people they are his image. God's love is not based on our behavior, whether good or bad. God's love is based on what lies with in himself; I relentless, brutal, aggressive, sacrificial compassion and love for his own creation.
What else can we learn about God in this parable?
God searches for lost sinners.
The shepherd went looking for the lost sheep. He took the initiative to hunt for the one that wandered from the flock. He did not stay with the 99 and expect the lost sheep to find his way back to the fold (church) on his own. Just because 99 were safe in the folder, the shepherd was not satisfied with a favorable percentage. Imagine a father who had 10 sons, and one of them gets killed. At the funeral would you say to the father, cheer up, you still have nine sons left?
God is actively searching for lost people. Where are you? A more active interest is aroused by objects when they get lost then our neighbors that are lost. You take your bike keys for granted or your cell phone until they get lost. Then you go into a panic mode and are consumed with finding them. Most will do almost anything at any cost to find these items.
Just how determined was the Scheppert find the lost sheep?
God searches for loss centers until he finds them.
The shepherd did not give up the search until the lost sheep was found. He never called off the search because it got dark, dangerous, or difficult. God never gives up on the 85% of people in our communities. It's God's nature to save. The cross of Christ say's that God will go through hell and high water to save our rebellious carcass. Are you a part of a church that it reflects this purpose and vision for God's lost people?
What was the shepherds reaction when he found the one sheep that was lost?
God rejoices over restoring lost sinners.
When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, rejoice with me for I have found the sheep which was lost; Luke 15; 5-6.
When the shepherd found the sheep, did he schooled, beat, discipline, reject, or ridicule the phone sheep? Did he start rumors, Sean or tell him he wasn't tithing properly? No, the shepherd rejoiced over finding the lost sheep. He actually threw a party; God rejoices over restoring lost people. This was uncomfortable news to the Jewish religious leaders concerning God's attitude towards lost people. Then, just to make sure His main point, his love for the lost was not missed, Jesus interpreted the parable for His audience.
Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. Luke 15; 5–6.
I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous person who believe they need no repentance. Luke 15:7.
That Jesus would hang with the likes of tax collectors is why his message is called good news. It means that Jesus wants to hang out with people like me and you; regardless if we are 99% or or 1% are. I remember when we lost our daughter one cold winter day, we panicked, call the neighbors and the police and for several hours we desperately searched for her. Until she was found. If we were that obsessed with our daughter, how much more is God obsessed with finding you and I, regardless of our attitude and behaviour? God is searching for our neighbours, fellow workers and many people in our communities, that are lost and could go to hell right now without hope in Jesus. Where are you?
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