I'm Supposed to Stay Away from the Prostitutes?

The other day I read a post on an e-mail loop that flipped the switch on my mental stove to high.

Yes, my proverbial blood boiled. After a few minutes I calmed down and what remained was sadness.

The bare bones of the e-mail was this: They discovered a “well known Christian editor” had a person following them on Twitter who was a prostitute.

Oh, the horror!The poster admonished the loop that, “You never can be too careful about who you’re following or who might be following you.”

Really? Really!?

You know where I’m going with this, but I have to say it anyway:

If Jesus had a Twitter account guess what? He’d have prostitutes following him and he'd follow them. They’d be friends on Facebook. I bet he’d have a few porn directors as friends (think tax collectors from his day) as well as some drug dealers.

He would love on these people. Laugh with them. Cry with them. Tell them the depth of his Abba's love for them.

Does it shock you (even a little) to consider how scandalous Jesus would be thought of if he walked around New York today hanging with the prostitutes? Would the churches you know embrace his actions with open arms?

Have we forgotten the church of his day was outraged at the people Jesus hung out with?

I have a friend who is close friends with an exotic dancer. This exotic dancer knows my friend follows Jesus and one day they were talking about the church helping people. The exotic dancer said, “The last place in the world I would ever, ever go for help is a church.” Sobering isn’t it? I hope so.

Here’s the point of my tirade: If you’re a published author, you are being watched. If you are an aspiring writer with a Facebook presence, or Twitter account, you’re being noticed. In those moments you have a chance to show people what Jesus is like.

We can show that Jesus loved (and loves) people like crazy. (Remember, the only ones who really ticked him off were the religious people of the day who wanted no part of those they deemed to be beneath them.)

Whatever your current position in the publishing world you have to chance to throw off religion, and love people—through your books, your tweets, your Facebook updates, blog posts and every other interaction of your life.

I’ve heard this loving people thing can change the world.

I think I might try it. How ‘bout you?

James L. Rubart

James L. Rubart is the best-selling, and award winning author of ROOMS, BOOK OF DAYS, and THE CHAIR. During the day he runs Barefoot Marketing, helping authors make more coin of the realm. In his free time he dirt bikes, hikes, water skis, and take photos. No, he doesn’t sleep much. He lives with his amazing wife and teenage sons in the Pacific Northwest and still thinks he’s young enough to water ski like a madman. More at www.jameslrubart.com