Jesus taught his followers to have genuine friendships with outcasts.
Matthew 9:9-11 9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. 10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to develop genuine friendships with those whom society sees as outcasts?
Note: Jesus' followers are often under the mistaken impression that they are to stay away from those society looks down on - especially those who are immoral. But here Jesus teaches us that his followers are to be friends with people whom the world sees as outcasts - even the immoral (tax collectors and sinners). Eating together represents friendship - not a relationship of superiority, but a friendship of love, respect, and humbleness on our part.
Note: I don't really like the word "outcasts" and prefer "marginalized."
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