Messy Christianity

Proverbs 14:4
"When there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox."

This verse really makes me think of the phrase "Messy Christianity"

Do we expect Christians to be perfect?
We say come as you are and let God clean you up, but often our actions would say clean yourself up before coming to God.

Do we as the church allow imperfect Christians?

What if someone offends us? Do we write them off?
What if someone makes a mistake? Do we hold it against them and never give a second chance?

I think forgiven people who model humility and grace are a tremendous witness of God's true character.
Authenticity is a quality that i think our world really needs to see in the church.
Real people, loving a real God, in a real way.

The body of Christ is not a perfect body.

unfortunately, just as the media has tried to tell us what a perfect physical body should look like, "Church" people have created what a perfect church body should look like.

i wonder, what does a Christian look like?
I think it depends -
How long has the person been a Christian?
What kind of past have they come from?
Have they had mentors and leaders in their life to influence their growth?
How fast do they walk on their spiritual journey and what has that path been like?
What kind of obstacles have they faced and overcome?

I think it's time for our churches to get messy.
Time for our churches to be filled with messy people that need of a savior.

Time for us to be willing to get our hands messy while helping people deal with the garbage in their lives.

Coming along side people while the Holy Spirit takes out the trash. Think about it, it's really hard to take out piles and piles of garbage without getting messy and getting our hands dirty.

And yet isn't that what God does in people's lives? They come and give their lives to Him and He begins to take out the garbage? We need to help.

What good is a clean stable if there are no oxen?
Oxen bring in the harvest.

What good is a "clean" church if there is no harvest?

God didn't call us to have a nice building and nice things.
He didn't call us to make sure the youth don't mess up the church or that the children don't spill on the carpet.

God called us to make disciples and reap a harvest!

The Bible refers to followers of Christ as Children and as sheep.

Have you ever noticed that children and sheep are messy?

It's time we tear down our expectations and pre-conceived ideas of what a Christian should look like and be focused on the work of making disciples and walking along side people as they try to figure out what it means to follow Christ.

Tell me what you think a Christian should like.