It was the talk of the countryside. Good living people talked about it. Synagogue attendees whispered and shook their heads. The religious leaders were appalled and used it as evidence to condemn and mock Him.

Everywhere Jesus travelled, He attracted the low-lifers, as some would call them. Perhaps a better term would be sad-lifers. A Scriptural term that comes to mind is just sinner.

Scruffy-looking alcoholics staggered towards Him. Despised tax-gatherers gravitated to Him. Homeless street people gathered around Him. Sinners of all stripes came out of the shadows to meet Him. Cheaters, stealers, beaters, violent derelicts, addicts and others abandoned by society were drawn to Him.

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2

Have you ever wondered what about our Saviour caused sinners to be drawn to Him? People who usually made themselves scarce from mainstream society were drawn to Him like metal to a magnet.

Perhaps it was His approach.

When a greasy, long-haired man with a ponytail approached Him, did He immediately tell Him: “It is a shame for a man to have long hair?”

When a pregnant teenager walked toward Him with her hair falling over her face, did He quickly condemn her of fornication?

When a staggering, inebriated middle-aged man came up to Him, did He promptly quote Scriptures about the abuse of alcohol?

When a lesbian tried to get close enough to hear Him, did he interrupt his message to shout “Abomination!” and shame her for her lifestyle?

When the unemployed man, dressed in rags, quietly inched his way near the Saviour, did Jesus shout out: “If a man shall not work, neither shall he eat?”

Did He carry placards and stand outside primitive abortion clinics of His day and scream to the frail and broken woman exiting: “Murder! Murder!”

When the girl with multiple piercings and her body plastered with tattoos walked towards Him, did He embarrass her by saying: “Don’t you know you are violating the Scriptures when you mark and mar your body?”

When the violent naked man with his body scarred from cuttings got close enough, did Jesus lower his eyebrows into a scolding frown and point out all his wrongdoings?

These types of people not only drew near to Him, but often, He took time to have a bite to eat with them. Imagine what they must have thought when everyone else either shunned or publicly embarrassed them, but here was someone willing to sit with them.

"Did you see His eyes? Instantly, I knew this Man cared. I felt safe and loved in His presence. I sensed He knew all about my sins, tears, loneliness, shame and regrets. I knew He was there to help me. In fact, when He looked at me, it was the first glimmer of hope I've ever had in my life. There was just something about Him that drew me to Him. He was real. He cared. He was gracious. Right there, He met my need completely. As a lost, shivering, bruised, beaten up and bleeding sheep, He picked me up - just like a tender Shepherd and brought me to safety."

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not argue or shout, and no one will hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick, until he has led justice to victory. The nations will put their hope in his name. Matthew 12:18-21

How does my approach to winning souls compare? When I try to witness to them on the street or speak to them publicly at an inner-city shelter or in a Gospel service, do they get the same impression from my approach?

Jesus seemed to deal directly and to the point with the upper echelons of society and called them out on their sins. But for those bruised and battered by raw sin, He treated them so gently and with respect and with so much tenderness and compassion. Sadly, we often do the opposite.

When a well-healed community member comes to hear the Gospel, or a mayor, an executive or even our own neighbours or co-workers, we do our best to share the truth with them, but we choose each word very carefully so as not to offend them unnecessarily. There will always be the offence of the cross, but we go to great lengths to pleasantly, lovingly and gently present Christ and the realities of eternity to them.

Every person in our city or town is an image-bearer and deserves to be treated with love and respect. Too often, when it comes to the less fortunate, we wear our boxing gloves. We’ve seen too many images of so-called Christians carrying placards shaming people. Is this really the best way to win these very people to Christ?

Read it again:

He [God’s Servant] will not argue or shout, and no one will hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick. Matthew 12:19-20

Is it possible that our harshest treatment, sharpest messages, and most direct blows are to those who have already been beaten and bruised by sin? We become brutally honest with them and rough them up, thinking it will lead to their repentance.   

Bible Bite about Timid Witnessing for Christ

Some say: “We aren’t naming the sin; we are just holding placards with Bible verses on them. A silent and peaceful way to share the Gospel.” But you don’t find the same Christians standing with such placards outside the office complex where their neighbour works, trying to get the attention of the sinners who work there. If one location in town needs to see the placards, then share the same news at every complex in the city. The point is – all are in need of Christ for all have sinned, and all fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

If you are uncertain about the approach you should use to win souls for Christ, always err on the side of grace, compassion, gentleness and Christlikeness.