We Are The Heathens - Week 5

Give It Away

Over Labor Day weekend and Sunday Funday, Lead Pastor Aeric Wallace continued our We Are The Heathens series with a look into the life of Zacchaeus. 

Zaccheaus was a tax collector. While we might shake our heads and our fists at the IRS, we experience an extremely different version of tax collection than the Jews in the Bible did. In fact, tax collectors like Zaccheaus were actually Jews hired by the Romans to collect taxes from their own people. They were often associated with sinners and traitors — true heathens. 

We all know that sharing what you feel you’ve earned is difficult, but the Jews were being asked to share beyond a portion of what they earned. They were taxed for their age and their gender, and many tax collectors would threaten Roman arrest if the Jews didn’t give up even more. No matter who they were or what job they held, their own people were stealing from them because they had been given power by the Romans.

However, despite his history and his status, Zaccheaus saw an opportunity to change his ways by following Jesus. Instead of falling back into his comfortable lifestyle founded on pain and fear, he chose to step outside his comfort zone by climbing a tree, following Jesus, and returning everything he had stolen (and more!) back to his people.

Even with this turn of events, the Jews continued to tell Jesus he was “hanging out with the wrong people.” Instead of dining with his own people, he was sitting with liars and thieves. Much like the Jews, we often refuse to dine with Jesus because we are waiting to be good enough for him to accept us when God is telling us he will take us as we are.

Before making assumptions, it’s important to consider the heart condition of the person who is willing to obey the Lord despite their history or their title.

Before making assumptions, it’s important to consider the heart condition of the person who is willing to obey the Lord despite their history or their title. Those who are willing to repent are always welcome at the Lord’s table.

Repentance is a really heavy word that is often associated with “turn or burn” messaging or small, confined spaces for admitting to our sins. While the intention behind these messages is true, its packaging is outdated. Repentance is more than a confession; it’s a series of steps to an intimate relationship with God.

Step 1: Admit you are wrong and take responsibility for your actions. Passing blame prolongs forgiveness.

Step 2: Admit God is right. We must humble ourselves and admit that even though there was a right options, we still chose the wrong one.

Step 3: Admit you will get it wrong again. God offers mercy and grace. He has more forgiveness than you have mistakes.

While Zacchaeus was a heathen, he still chose the path of repentance. While we may be sinners, Christ died for us — no matter our history.

Watch this week’s message below or catch up with the series here!