No perfect people allowed.

Recently, we had a large youth event where kids were asked to invite friends and come hang out for the evening. It's interesting to see who comes to these events. I have been reading through a book called "No Perfect People Allowed" and it basically talks about how the church can be a dangerous place for someone who doesn't know Christ. It can be a place of hate and a place where people launch bombs of irritation at one another because there is an acceptable way to behave at church and as "church people" we think everyone should know it. Why should we be surprised when someone swears in our church when they don't know Christ? Why should we be surprised when someone tries to steal something and they are not part of the body of Christ. Paul writes that we are a "New creation, the old has gone and the new has come." Reality is, without Christ, we wouldn't be a part of a "holy huddle" where we set the cultural standard and think that those without Christ should follow these rules. Certainly there are laws that shouldn't be broken by anyone, but when there are nuances of sin, we must begin to be Jesus to the people around us that don't know him. The only way that they will know him is if we show him in the actions that we engage in. Sharing truth is something that Jesus did well. He wasn't wishy washy. He was confident in who he was. He did share truth, but he did it in extreme love with much grace. And when we begin to exhibit this grace with love that produces truth, people are drawn to that and that Holy Spirit works in amazing ways!

I saw alot of kids not fit the "Churchy mold" that we want them to fit. It's the messiness of bringing people that don't know Christ that scares us. But it shouldn't. Jesus Christ has the power to absolutely renovate lives in unbelievable ways. I'm excited to see what GOd will do in this.

God, open my eyes so that I can see the wonderful things that you. Open my heart up and make me like you to others that don't know you!

Amen.