No More Religious Snobbery!

As I look at today’s church, I can’t help but feel that many have lost sight of what truly matters to Jesus. Too often, religion becomes focused on behavior modification: “I never smoke, drink, or cuss… I read my Bible daily, I fast, I pray…” Many believe this is what it means to be like Jesus.

Was Jesus perfect? Yes!
Is He the spotless example of righteousness? Absolutely!

But Jesus’s number one concern isn’t our behavior. He already knew that, as humans, our behavior would never be good enough to make us right with God. That’s precisely why He died on the cross—to cleanse us from our sins and imperfections (Hebrews 1:3). More than that, He was raised from the dead to make us right with God (Romans 4:25)!

Because of Jesus’s work on the cross, our behavior is no longer His top priority. He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us in living rightly. With faith in Him, we can trust that the rest will eventually fall into place.

So, what is Jesus’ greatest concern?

How We Love Others

Sadly, many churches today feel more like exclusive social clubs. Those who don’t “fit the mold” often sense a lack of love and acceptance. They may walk away, believing that if the church doesn’t welcome them, then God Himself must not love them either.

Before I embraced the message of grace, I was one of those religious snobs—perhaps the worst I’ve ever known. I thought I was better than “those people” because I was in church all the time and believed I had my act together. I was blind to the truth that “God so loved the world” means the whole world.

Breaking Free from Religious Snobbery

I’ve encountered fellow Christians who audibly gasp when I mention that one of our sons is attending college in Boulder. I can see their judgment immediately: “How could you let your son go to school with all those… sinners?”

We’ve been conditioned by religious teachings to avoid “sinful” unbelievers, as if their sin is contagious. But this mindset doesn’t reflect Jesus.

A while ago, I helped a couple living an alternative lifestyle find a home. I had been asking God to help me feel more comfortable around people different from me, and He delivered this opportunity within days. As we walked into a coffee shop to discuss paperwork, my old snobbery tried to surface: “What if someone from church sees me with them?”

But as we talked, I found myself enjoying their company. By the end of the meeting, I was grateful I had met them.

When I got home, I thought about my initial fear. The Holy Spirit gently reminded me: “That’s the same thing they said about Jesus.” The religious leaders of His day often accused Jesus of hanging out with “those people.” Realizing I was following in His footsteps filled my heart with joy—I was becoming more like Jesus!

Jesus and “Those People”

Here’s the truth: Jesus spent time with sinners. He went to their parties. He shared meals with them. He laughed, cared, and was their friend.

Jesus didn’t drag sinners to the synagogue; He went to them. He didn’t focus on their faults or make their sin the topic of conversation. Instead, He simply loved them.

And because of His love, they were drawn to believe in Him. As Romans 2:4 says:

“…can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” (NLT)

Reflecting Jesus’ Love

If we truly want to reflect Jesus, we must let go of our pretenses and get real with people. Let’s stop pretending we’re perfect—because we’re not, and the world can see it! That’s why they call us hypocrites: we say one thing but do another. Let’s not look down on those whom God loves. If the church can embrace this, we will transform the world for Jesus.