A Big Tent

He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of¹ the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:13-17 ESV).

 

The poet Carl Sandburg was asked what he thought was the ugliest word. He said, “The ­ugliest word is exclusive.” Today I’ve decided to us the concept of “the Big Tent” as a springboard to understand Jesus’ teaching in our reading today. The term is a reference to being inclusive in the church; it means we have room for everyone. That’s certainly the case at the “tent” church you see pictured here. It is located in South Korea. It only seats 500, but they somehow make room for the other 4,500 with additional services throughout the weekend!

 

Jesus was inclusive and, as our reading shows, condemned by the religious “right” of his day. Most people don’t think that exclusive is ugly. In fact, many of us like exclusive neighborhoods, exclusive cars, and exclusive clothing. We like being with our “own kind,” separated from people who are different and “undesirable.” The Pharisees hated Jesus’ inclusiveness.

 

Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber planted a church, House for All Sinners and Saints, in a “grungy, hipster neighborhood” in Denver, Colorado. This church attracted people whom much of society rejects: people with low incomes and people addicted to various substances. Outgrowing their facilities, the church moved to a new building in a “stately, historic” neighborhood. At the very next Sunday service, the usual crowd showed up along with people who were embraced by society, wearing their nice clothing. After the worship service, Bolz-Weber was upset and complained to her friends, “We’re attracting entirely the wrong element.”

 

She confesses in her book Pastrix that she had an exclusive attitude, rejecting people whom society tends to embrace. She had to learn to welcome “bankers­ wearing Dockers” in her congregation! The people of God should be a BIG Tent for all sinners and saints.