Metaphorically Speaking

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Let's think about that for a minute. What does the apple represent here? Health? Happiness? Prosperity? Holiness? As a society, we tend to turn a blind eye to the darker less fruitful parts of our world. What is the apple keeping away? Disease. Sadness. Change. Uncertainty, death. We all strive to be more like Jesus in our everyday lives? Jesus told us in Matthew 9:12-13:

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. `I desire mercy, not sacrifice. ' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Much like today, the religious culture of Ancient Israel was not accepting of those with only oranges. In the book of Matthew, when Jesus stepped into his role as a teacher, he was questioned by Roman authority as well as pharisees. They asked him why a holy man of his power would surround himself in the company of common men from the red quarter, as well as tax collectors and the unclean. There is nothing wrong with eating an apple a day, but we shouldn't shun those who only have oranges to eat. Not only should we share our apples with them, like Jesus would, but we should help them finish their oranges as well.

Jesus wasn’t afraid of the oranges in our world, but rather he came for them.

Religion had become so strict, so conformed to box, that it limited God within the law. Entertaining the idea that there could be more, it appeared to conflict with scripture, and was considered blasphemy, punishable by death. In their eyes, it was a sin to think God could still do something new. Jesus appeared a threat to religious leaders, because he had power and taught the faith so much differently than what they knew. Jesus came for the oranges. He came to show us that the oranges are not scary, and deserve to be forgiven. In a world that was so quick to dismiss people on account of their sins, and judge others according to their apples, Jesus brought a different kind of teaching called love and mercy.

How many times do our churches and ministries start to look like the old testament law, shunning those we don't like, and don't act according to how we think they should. How often do we judge someone based on their oranges, rather than offering them an apple? How often do we govern by a law, rather than grace and mercy? Let me give you an example.

Jesus and his disciples were walking the road back home, when a sick man approached them. His infectious disease exposed all over his skin, showed his uncleanliness. The disciples, so accustomed to their culture and way of life, drew their daggers and told him to stay away, and not come any closer. They were afraid of someone who was different, and thought about how it could affect them. The man begged for help, but the disciples shunned him. Jesus told Simon that it was okay. Jesus reached his hand out and rested his hand on the man’s shoulder. The man said that he knew Jesus could heal him if he was willing, and that is exactly what Jesus did. Jesus does not turn away those who are sick. Like he said, it is the sick who need a doctor, not the healthy. In church, it can be easy to get caught up in rules, and the “right way to follow Jesus”, that we forget the whole reason why Jesus came. We have to remember not to shun others along the way.

In the book of Genesis, Eve showed us that sometimes being so concerned with the apples of our world can be detrimental. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but sometimes we need a doctor. Focusing on the apples every day, instead of the oranges, is the old testament law and perfection. The new church and the good news Jesus brought, is that he is here for the sinners. He is here for the sick. If our churches do not look like hospitals, then we are doing something wrong. They should be full of flawed people, and real humans that need a doctor. If our church or ministry is full of people that look good and do not appear to be struggling, then we are missing an invitation to so many people that need it. We shouldn't kick out the ones with issues. We should be inviting them that much closer, because that is what Jesus did.

Oranges taste better than apples anyways, lol. :)