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Scripture for this chapter
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
Luke 15:2 KJV
At a glance
Wilkerson is criticized by some churchgoers for spending time with the very people the church tends to avoid.
Wilkerson chooses proximity to those most in need over the approval of more comfortable observers.
UECF.NET summary
As word spreads that a pastor is spending his time with known gang members, Wilkerson faces criticism not only from outsiders but from some within the church, uncomfortable with his choice of company. The chapter draws a deliberate parallel to Jesus being criticized for eating with tax collectors and “sinners,” framing the discomfort as an old and recognizable pattern rather than a new problem.
Rather than distancing himself from the criticism, Wilkerson leans further into relationships with the teenagers who most alarm respectable opinion, arguing implicitly that the mission field determines the company he keeps, not the comfort of onlookers.
Key points
- Ministry to the marginalized often draws criticism from within the church as much as from outside it.
- The chapter frames this criticism as an old pattern, echoing Jesus' own reputation for eating with outcasts.
- Wilkerson chooses proximity to those most in need over the approval of more comfortable observers.
Related Scripture
For reflection and discussion
- Have you ever faced criticism from fellow believers for who you chose to spend time with?
- What does it mean, practically, to let the mission field rather than social comfort determine your company?
- How do you tell the difference between wise caution and simple discomfort with people unlike yourself?
This page is an original UECF.NET study companion. It does not reproduce any text from The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson (with John Sherrill and Elizabeth Sherrill), which remains under copyright. Read the full chapter in a legally available edition of the book — see Further Reading & Legal Editions — or borrow the original 1963 edition via Internet Archive’s Open Library controlled digital lending.