In Tim Harlow’s book, Life On Mission, he paints the picture of a heart issue I wish we would all embrace. He begins with Jesus reaching out and touching a leper, and then he says…

“I know, I know, ‘But Harlow, this is Jesus we’re talking about. He didn’t have to worry about leprosy.’ True…he wasn’t infected by leprosy. But then, Jesus was infected by our sin and willingly died of it, so we probably shouldn’t use that as an excuse.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t use hand sanitizer. I’m saying you shouldn’t use a heart sanitizer. We fear sin sometimes, and rightly so in proper proportions, because it is a destructive thing, and we’re called to be holy. But understand the message of Jesus. Sin is not nearly as contagious as the life of the Kingdom of God. Jesus just kept extending his hand—healing lepers, blessing children, washing feet—until, as Kyle Idleman says, they finally had to nail his hands down to get him to stop.” (Tim Harlow, Life on Mission, pg. 83)

Are we really more afraid of getting a little dirty and inconvenienced more than we fear the reality of a neighbor never hearing the Good News?