"They"

said he was guilty of gluttony-often greedily eating

far too much. "They" said he was a

drunkard-at times overcome by alcohol liquor to the

point of losing control over his faculties.

"They" said he was friends with

tax-collectors-men who cheated the people and the

government so their own back accounts would be full. And,

"they" said he caroused with sinners-men

and women who openly violated religious laws of various

kinds.

Who is

"they?" Well, "they" are the folks

who have more time than purpose. "They" are

folks who can tear apart the fabric of a community

without contributing anything to weave it.

"They" are people who know all the reasons why

"it"-whatever "it"

is-cannot be done. "They" are expert

navel-gazers and adept storm-watchers. "They"

can be found in any strata of society and any epoch of

time. "They" thrive in the middle of people

with purpose, goals, and commitment. "They"

leach off the energy of enterprising people.

Catch the

drift?

So, if you

know who "they" is or are (ask President

Clinton since he has proved his mastery over the word

"is"), who is the "he?" He is Jesus

of Nazareth. The Alpha and Omega. The king of kings. The

Lord of lords. He is the door, the bread of life, the

lily of the valley, the way, the truth, the life. He is

the great amen. He is the prince of peace, the all wise

counselor, the everlasting father, the mighty God. He is

before Abraham was and there is no other way to put it.

Now, let us

get the picture in focus. "They," who have not

made a dime's worth of difference in this world, have

called Jesus a gluttonous man, and a drunkard, and a

friend of tax-collectors, and an associate of sinners. Is

this right? Yes, you have got it!

But, how

does this set of scandalous facts fit into my neat and

tidy religion called Christianity? It does not fit! If

your religion is based on a Jesus who thinks, believes,

and acts like a self-righteous hypocrite, you need to go

back and read his best seller again. You've skipped over

significant blocks of scripture. Like Jesus as the star

of the party at Matthew's house. Like Jesus enjoying the

town prostitute as she gave her all in a broken perfume

bottle. Like Jesus fending off the town's moral majority

from stoning a poor soul caught in adultery.

Yes, I know

his best seller also says he was tempted in every way but

without sin. I just think we've only told half the story.

We've preached the part about "without sin."

Nevertheless, we have not been too effective in preaching

he was a friend to all those caught in wrong places, a

friend to the gay community, to the hookers, to the drug

pushers, and to those involved in white collar crime. We

just need to tell the whole truth, not just part. Why?

Because he is Truth!

The Rev. Dr. John

Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in

Fayetteville.

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