Song of the Week: Mark Heard's "Stuck in the Middle"

"Why are you spending time with those far from God?" If you're a believer, you have to answer this question.

The Pharisees asked Christ's disciples this question (Matthew 9). Matthew had been far from God when Jesus called him to become a disciple. The first thing he did was throw a dinner party so all his friends--all as far from God as he once was--could meet Jesus, too.

The religious people, though, were aghast, convinced that socializing with people like this was tacit approval of their lifestyle.

So they asked the disciples why they were spending time with those far from God. How would you answer that? Maybe you might say, "Well, I don't. We've got to keep pure, you know. And besides, someone might misunderstand if we were seen together." Or you might have to answer that question, "I spend time with those away from God because I am more like them than I am like Jesus." In other words, you have no interest in being a positive influence in other lives--you are with them not only because you enjoy them but you enjoy their sins. Hopefully we can all get to the point where we can say, "I just want to be with Jesus and Jesus is with those who need him."

The late Christian singer-songwriter Mark Heard was a man who knew well the criticism that comes when you try to be close to Jesus and close to those who need him at the same time. I wrote about him earlier. From his 1981 album, Stop the Dominoes, here's "Stuck in the Middle"--

It's a funny world we live in
It's funny every day
Half the world prays like the preacher
The other half don't even pray
So no one understands you
If you pray in your own way

Now I'm stuck here in the middle
Everything is in a jam
Stuck right in the middle
Doors on both sides seem to slam
No one seems to want me
Only God will take me like I am

Well my brothers criticize me
Say I'm just too strange to believe
And the others just avoid me
They say my faith is so naive
I'm too sacred for the sinners
And the saints wish I would leave

Now I'm stuck here in the middle
Everything is in a jam
Stuck right in the middle
Doors on both sides seem to slam
No one seems to want me
Only God will take me like I am

In this Sunday's message, I'm covering the story of Jesus socializing with Matthew and his friends. It will be posted Monday (iTunes; website).
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