When we look at Matthew the disciple and his tax collector friends we see a man who was rejected and despised by society and religious people everywhere and yet Jesus invited Matthew. When Matthew left everything and followed Jesus he threw Him a party and droves of tax collectors and sinners showed up. These men (and women) who were rejected by every other rabbi and religious person, wanted to be with this unorthodox rabbi named Jesus. While these "sinners" are rejected by and in turn reject religious people they are attracted to Jesus. And Jesus had the audacity to sit, eat, and befriend these rejected people- not because he has a goal of checking another one off the list, but because He loves them. At Capital Vineyard we are trying to create an environment full of grace and Jesus where rejected outsiders want to be, and feel comfortable while Jesus is calling them.
