They Like Jesus But Not the Church
It was not a comfortable read. Not since I spent 27 years as a minister/pastor. But it was helpful.
In Dan Kimball’s They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations
Here are some of the statements from a few of his young (basically twentysomething) friends:
“I feel the church is very sexist, yet I don’t believe that Jesus was sexist. From what I have observed, women in the church basically sit on the sidelines and are only able to work with children, answer the phones, be secretaries, and serve the men. They seem to be given no voice. The church seems pretty much like a boys’ club for adults.”
“The church is a group of judgmental mudslingers. They seem to really like picking fights with others. Whether it is homosexuals, or other religions, or even with each other. That’s the weirdest part. Jesus said to love one another, but you’re always hearing how the church even fights among themselves and with other denominations. But this isn’t anything new. Look at the Crusades. The church has always been an angry bunch.”
“You ask why I don’t go to church? Why would I want to become a negative person like most Christians are? That’s why. The world is negative enough without having the church make me more negative.”
“I did grow up in a church, but now I am a Buddhist. When I became a mother, I wanted my daughter to have a spiritual upbringing. However, I didn’t want her to become like the Christians in the church I knew. They were always so negative and complaining about everything, and I wanted my daughter to be in a positive environment. I became Buddhist since they are a much more loving and peaceful people than those in the church.”
“I don’t trust the church. All you ever see is men who have their own political agendas basically brainwashing the people in their church that if they don’t believe the same things the church leaders do, and vote the same way, they are going to hell. Church shouldn’t be about politics. It’s all about organizing their religion to control people to conform them to their viewpoints and mix that in with spiritual faith. What is sad is how many people sit there and never question it.”
“When I first started coming out of the closet, I knew that the church wouldn’t approve. It was very, very clear that the church was against homosexuality. How could you not know that? It seems that homosexuality is one of the main things churches consistently and publicly condemn. So picture being gay and wanting to seek counsel or spiritual advice. Why would I go to a church? They already have thrown heaps of guilt on me and condemned me before I’ve even stepped my foot in the door.”
“Christian fundamentalists seem to use the Bible like a weapon, quoting verses out of context like bullets to shoot anything or anyone they don’t like.”
Everything in me wants to respond: You’re not being fair; Don’t judge every church by what you’ve seen on TV (think: Fred Phelps); Don’t categorize and condemn everyone — just as you don’t want to be categorized and condemned.
However . . . I am trying hard to learn to listen first. These are real people with real perceptions. Why are they saying that? What guidance does that give us? Do we find it hopeful that while they’re skeptical about the church they’re still drawn to Jesus?
I understand the concerns behind this posting and, as a mother, share them. But something strange struck me as I was reading. The young people’s comments did not strongly support the title of the post. I counted incidents of Jesus’s name in the comments at 2 and the use of the pronoun “I” at 18. I do understand that “I” is necessary in order to express one’s thoughts, but still I think this tells us something. Some of it is absolutely normal for young people struggling to decide who they are and what they believe. But I also think it reminds us to keep everything in balance.
Thanks, Sandra. Good point. I used as the title of the post the name of Kimball’s book. It would certainly take a fuller selection from the book to give the larger context that the book implies.
Probably should remove my post. Just realized I used Jesus once and I 7. Now feel humbled.
Sandra – I’m laughing. Sounds so much like me!
These quotations are sobering. Can we request, as a beginning place, that Fred Phelps never be allowed on television again? That’s a place to start.
When I was in New Hampshire I had the opportunity to interview all the church plants that Restoration House Ministries had a hand in helping develop. One of the congregations that helped bring RHM to NH was very well established in the community and runs about 3000 in attendance on Sundays. This was not the case ten years ago (they ran at 250 the fifteen years before that), and I asked what changed. The answer I got was their ability to start treating individuals like Jesus treated those he came in contact with, and not like they had traditionally treated individuals as a congregation.
They realized that as soon as someone entered their doors they were relegated to a group (white middle class or single unwed mother, and so on) and all the prejudices, politics, and even preconceived helps got in the way of getting to really know these individuals. “Here is what you need to do to belong” was the felt response of anyone walking through their door. Now it is “God loves you, we love you, and welcome to a place where you already belong – how can we serve you?” Loving people into the Kingdom of God is something I heard from just about every single church plant team while I was there.
This is not to say that there were not problems involved with this, because people’s lives are messy. However, when you love people the moment you encounter them and welcome them into faith that is being lived out not just within the walls of a building but out in the communities in which they live – lives transform. You’ve just invited them to participate in a life long journey of living live differently, rather than trying to sell them life insurance.
The greatest paradox the world sees is a a community of faith proclaiming Christ as the answer, yet they see this same community of faith living lives radically different from the One being proclaimed.
He has a DVD to accompany the book. On that DVD he has the video interviews of all of these people as well as his video response. I taught through this material in our 20s & 30s class and they could really relate as many of them had friends who had the same views as these non-Christians.
Kimball is certainly NOT pushing for a church that is so seeker sensitive that it ceases being a church. But he is swinging the pendulum a bit in order to get those who have never even thought about what a seeker might think to actually start listening.
Here is his point in a nutshell – We won’t reach people if we don’t care about them. If we really care about them we will value them. If we value them we will want to listen to them. If we listen to them we will understand them. At that point a real conversation has actually taken place (and relationship possibly formed) rather than just giving them scripture after scripture, telling them how wrong and sinful they are. People today won’t listen to that approach because it is disingenuous.
So if I learned anything from his material it is the importance of actually listening to what they believe so I get where they are coming from and value them as an actual person. The problem is, that takes time! But it is so rewarding and valuable. It is rare that we can just show up on a door step of a stranger anymore and baptize them an hour later. People have changed. His material helps us understand how they have changed, what many believe, and how to respond.
It makes me sad to read those quotes, even though I hear them frequently while teaching at TCC, and from my friends who aren’t “Christian”. I always feel like saying, yes it’s true, but look at me. I am a Christian who is LISTENING to what you say WITHOUT judging you. We definitely have a PR problem on our hands. I think the only answer is to realize that this PR problem starts and ends with us, His church, and how we must let Jesus live in us and guide our interactions with others.
Thanks, jodi, dps and Matt. Nice summary of the material, Matt. I didn’t know there was a dvd to go with it. Thanks for that heads up.
Having “grown up in the church”, it is difficult to listen to these comments. It is, however, possible. It is, however, possible to walk into a church building on a Sunday morning and see how awful the whole place can be from certain perspectives.
Do this at this time
Do that at that time
Do this in this way
Do that in that way
Dress this way
Sing that way
Pray only when we tell you to pray
Praise only when we tell you to praise
Yikes. Do we care enough to look at ourselves and give a few inches?
I shared excerpts from this book and “Unchristian” in a church to some mixed responses. Some understood what the complaints were getting at while others did not. What I told them, especially to the ones who don’t understand, that perception and reality are not the same BUT that there is always some truth to people’s perception and in this case, there is just too many repeating the same themes to dismiss.
The question we “church” people must ask is what will we do about it?
Grace and peace,
Rex
Thought I’d contribute a thought provoking article written by Brad East. In it he questions why people could claim to “like Jesus,” if we take seriously his teaching he becomes rather abrasive to our way of life. It’s a good read.
http://resident-theology.blogspot.com/2009/09/on-curious-claim-that-people-like-jesus.html
It is vital to listen to what people are saying when they leave “the church” just like it is vital that we listen to people that leave individual churches for other churchs…my thought is that their feelings would mirror those of the young men and women quoted in this book. Judgment, negative, rigid…
That said, I am interested if anyone else see’s a generational issue at work as well. My experience with this generation (and I employ nearly 50 of them) do not ever want to be told what to do. They do not respond to coaching and constructive critisicm. NOT ALL, but thats my experience. Thoughts???
what i think is really interesting is that those interviewed seem to, in some ways, have a better theology of “church” than do a lot of every-sunday attenders. what i mean is that over half of them refer to church as being the group of people themselves — rather than the building. ie:
- “i feel the church is very sexist.”
- “the church is a group of judgmental mudslingers.”
they realize something a lot of Christians don’t, and are reacting to it.
on a side note, i’m personally uncomfortable with dan kimball’s approach to mission — a very attractional model. but all the same, if you’re going to do attractional, this is probably the way to do it:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/communitylife/evangelism/iwaswrongaboutchurchbuildings.html?sms_ss=twitter
James,
Good points there. If you read his book and watch the DVD you will see he is more than willing to address these issues and have a biblical response to them. I would say I disagree with him on his exegesis concerning a passage or two he uses in the homosexuality part of the curriculum. But for the most part, he is pretty thoughtful and is concerned with what the Bible has to say on these things.
I would call him relational more than attractional.
matt, i probably have painted kimball with a pretty broad brush stroke, after only reading a few reviews of his paintings, and a couple of his interviews. i brought a copy of ‘they like jesus…’ with me to tanzania, but haven’t started it yet. but now you and cope are making me want to read it more. i think it’s moved up a few spots on my list.
His book on emerging church is also very helpful. It is dated now since things move so fast but it is still a challenging read. Again, I don’t agree with everything in there but there are some things I think are helpful in ministry. Like with any author, you have to be wise enough to decipher between the meat and the bones.
i grew up in the church(of christ) and left it 2 years ago. (i’m attending a bible church now) i left because the church seemed to be more interested in the order of worship and the preacher walked on eggshells during his sermons…never addressing any issues that may cause someone to send an email. it seemed to me everyone there was more concerned about appearances, not actually growing as a faith community. i worked at the church and just saw so many people doing things that were appalling…people that worked for the church and were very active and had leadership positions.
after going through a teen pregnancy and being practically ‘shunned’ by the most “christian” people i knew, i had a lot of bitterness towards the church. (that was in 05, i got married in 06 and went to the church of christ until 08)
i just wanted to state some (rather disconnected) thoughts and feelings i have about the church and why i, as a 23 year old, have a hard time watching “christians” behave the way they do. i’m very careful not to lump all coc people in a group, or all christians for that matter. i know some wonderful wonderful christian people. it’s just that in my experience, the people that have been the most accepting and loving towards me have been “non-believers” or just not self-professing-christian-types. the people who have been the nastiest and most judgemental towards have been christians.
i love jesus. i love fellowship. i don’t love the politics and rule-list-making of chruches sometimes. it’s about modeling your life as best you can after jesus, following his direction, and walking by faith through life. it’s about grace, mercy, love, and accountability. it’s about acceptance, genuine friends, and learning to help and lead others towards christ and a christian lifestyle. it’s not about when communion is served. it’s not about putting on a perfect face when you walk in the building. it’s not about pretending. it’s not about judging….it’s not an exclusively perfect club. sometimes it feels that way.
we chose the bible church because it’s a more ‘relaxed’ feel…if that makes sense. it feels more real and genuine to me.
please excuse my disconnected thoughts and writing, i’m writing this with 2 little boys nagging me every few minutes
There are few certainties in life, but it would appear that only those church fellowships/denominations that embrace looking totally different than they did in 1960 and in 1990 will exist to any measurable degree in 2020. We will be amazed what happens over the next decade as boomers’ parents – the denominational patriarchs of the family – pass on. I’m inclined to believe the number of Boomers which will join their kiddos either out of church or in an altogether different fellowship environment will increase tenfold.
Thank you, thank you, Hilary, for taking the time to share those perspectives. And they were quite connected — especially for someone who has two little ones tugging at her!
Being the traditionalist dad of a 14-yr-old who is already seeing through much of this…and then moving into a season of exile myself…makes it difficult to hope for a good outcome. These trends are understandable, but also worrying.
I’ve been a member of the churches of Christ for nearly 15 years now. And for the last 2 – 2.5 years, I’ve been trying to remain a member.
Problem is — well, I don’t think it’s a problem, but my fellowship does — I’m female, a theologian and interested in pursuing ministry beyond vocational or youth ministry. There is no place for someone like me in my geographical area. I’ve even tried to deny that I have a pull toward that type of ministry and that hasn’t worked. And that’s pretty much when it hit me: if I have to work so hard to convince myself that there’s no tug at my heart to enter a formal ministry, if I have to deny that that’s where my gifts and interest lay in order to “fit,” it may well be time to leave. Likely it’s past time.
So I feel a bit like Abram/Abraham at the moment, being called away from those I care about and the traditions and rituals I know in order to journey into a wilderness in a direction currently unknown with only the shadows of faith that whatever lies beyond is what God has wrought.
What are we to do?
How can we change people’s perception while not compromising truth?
Listening helps. Knowing what other people think about the Church gives us insight. But what do we do with the information? Will people accept that I can listen, empathize, hear and yet disagree? There maybe some who want to venture in a direction that God does not allow, we can and will listen to them, but when we share my understanding of what God says, then they accuse us of not listening. What are some suggestions on how to help people see that we can disagree, remains steadfast to our beliefs, but still love and respect them?
Help!?!?
Try Judiasm. Much more “christian” than most christians . . .
I think Paul was extremely clear when he stated: a woman must recieve instruction silently and under complete control. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. 1 Tim 2:11- He argues this point from the creation order.. 1 Tim 2:13- For Adam was formed first, then Eve. Further Adam was not decieved but the woman was decieved and transgressed. Then we skip over to 1 Tim 3:2 Therefore a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, vs 4= “HE” must manage his own house well. Leadership in the church is clearly seen as by men. Jesus is the same yesterday and today. The Church doctrine has not changed, but people who go after their own lusts and are disobedient are trying to change it.
Scott,
Dan Kimball address your concern on how do we change people’s perceptions without compromising the truth. He points to the fruits of the Spirit and makes an insightful comment that many un-churched believe Christians are the opposite of all the fruits of the Spirit. If you think about that, there is some truth in that statement. So he basically believes that if we get back to exhibiting those qualities that we can change people’s perception by showing the fruit that we are already supposed to have. This might change the mind of some, one person at a time.
I found the comment on Buddhism interesting because I have traveled to Thailand many times and nearly married a Buddhist. I can remember feeling this way many times and having exactly the same criticism toward many Christians. I frequently hear terrible things uttered about Buddhist by Christians (i.e. comments related to Tiger’s life style and how it is typical of a Buddhist who does not know Christ). Of course not all Christians behave this way and you can’t judge Christianity by the people who call themselves Christians and fail to behave like Christians. When Christians behave this way I politely call them on it as I would hope that they would remind me when I fail to behave as a Christian should. One thing I admire about Buddhist is that they don’t judge people for having a different set of beliefs. I frankly don’t care what religion or beliefs someone else has, although I do feel very sorry for atheist.
Having said this, I think the other criticisms are way off, but it is hard to get people into the church and get them to understand what Christianity and faith in God really means. It doesn’t help that there are so many tortured souls with an axe to grind slandering God, Christianity and religion. They also represent the path of least resistance since it seems to many people much easier to criticize people of faith than it is to have faith and give your life to God.
I’m coming up on 55 years old this summer. Many of the expressions you quote, Mike, from They Like Jesus But Not The Church are statements I could have made at the ages surveyed.
Sadly, I still could make them.
I am on the “inside” of the problem. I am part of the problem. I am part of the church.
So I have a different perspective from people “outside” of the church’s problems as well as its blessings.
I don’t know why they like Jesus but not the church, but I know why I have difficulty sometimes.
It’s because us folk inside her ain’t all that much like Him.
And – though I haven’t read the book – if it leads to any other conclusion, I’d be very surprised.
Something I think a lot about but don’t HEAR a lot about in the coc is the place of artists in the churches of Christ. As an artist myself, a passionate, impulsive David-type (you may perceive these qualities as positive or negative), I feel sure God made me this way. However, there’s never much room for passionate expression in cocs. Why? I’ve struggled for years, forcing myself to go to church and trying to find my place, all the while tip-toeing around people’s sensitivities. I’ve seen glimmers of hope from time to time that things would change, but the tiny steps we’ve taken have been fought tooth and nail. I’m in my thirties now, and sadly, it’s time for me to move on. I have a daughter now, and if she’s as passionate and expressive as her dad and I are, I don’t want her creative spirit to be squelched the way mine has been. I’m seeking a place where the respect I have for scripture and the gifts God has given me can go hand in hand. I have faith that I will find the right church for us.
Mike,
I’m glad you posted this. While Kimball offers in this book is so important as he gives voice to these concerns while addressing them in his own context. If nothing else, these quotes alone are a reminder that these perceptions are very real.
(Thanks also to Matt in his comments above for even more info and summaries)
It’s been my experience when people skunk-spray the church, there’s no reason to panic or try to change the church so that people will stop saying such disturbing things. The church is made up of imperfect people who will sometimes (or even often) misjudge, go negative, or get political. And even if we could change the church into a group that always does the right thing, people will still say disturbing things; besides, none of us would quite fit in to a church that always does the right thing (no matter how much we’d like to believe that we would).
Mike’s got the right idea, I believe. Just listen for awhile. Build some trust. Often people leave the church because they were hurt, no one goes to them to bring them back, and so they conclude that no one in the church cares about them. The pain gets buried, still unresolved, and it comes out in occasional attacks on the church. You’ve got to uncork the pain and help them work through their fears and misconceptions.
God likes Jesus and God likes the Church. Hebrews 11:16 – Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God – Our Father is PROUD of us. Maybe these kids (and everybody else) need to be hearing THAT from us instead of reinforcing their criticism by regularly criticizing the Church ourselves.
“there is nothing new under the sun” When Jesus’ teaching became too hard, or something they didn’t want to hear they turned away from following him. Is today any different? Many go shopping for the church that fits what they want to believe. By definition that is idolatry. Many people want to live their lives like they want and have just enough “Jesus” to ease their conscience. Those who try show them the way they should live their life based on the Bible are called judgmental and narrow-minded. But when their lives fall apart, because of that word we are not allowed to use in society anymore –”sin”, then they want to know why is God against me?
This issue is one with which I am wrestling. In theory I should not be because I am in church leadership. I have read Kimball’s book, as well as works written by others. I think it comes back to a fundamental premise I heard when I was younger and have heard repeatedly throughout my adult life. That premise being, we want to be like the early church. While there are many noble attriubutes of the early church, we were never commanded to be like the early church. We are to be like Christ.
Too often, in trying to be like the early church, we (and I include me) miss the mark. We need to try to be like Jesus. That is our standard. That is such a seismic shift in paradigm that it creates a lot of difficulty for individuals, as well as the corporate being called the church.
I am still wrestling with what all of this means. One thing is for certain; what we are doing now is not right and it must change. Otherwise, the church will increase in its irrelevance.
If I’m among those who seem to be skunk-spraying the church, please understand that doing so would be skunk-spraying myself. I don’t think I’m doing that.
But anyone can see in these comments alone that there are two extreme views of the church in play here.
One extreme is that the church is the beautiful, perfect bride of Christ and no one should dare insult her by suggesting she is anything less, or try to change anything about her.
The other extreme is that “everything must change” (sorry to misrepresent McLaren), and a total head-to-toe makeover is required.
Between the extremes is the perception that the church is the bride of Christ, yes, but overly coated in makeup and self-importance and that she does need to change that into gratitude for what the bridegroom has done for her and show it by taking on more of His nature as well as His name.
That view, I think, is where the truth is found.
First of all, let me say that I did not grow up in the Church of Christ, but am now a member since converting after marriage. I do believe that the body of Christ extends waaay beyond our doors to those who lift up Christ, his death, burial and resurrection, basically the gospel. In response to Q, I grew up in a church that allowed women to be in the pulpit, though it was rare. I don’ t believe that we are commanded to recreate/copy the early church, but we are commanded to copy Christ and be relevant to our world as he was…but not “of” the world. That being said, the fact is that women will follow a man, but few men will follow a woman unless they are forced. Statistically, denominations who have opened their doors widest to female leadership are declining in membership. Perhaps, this is the reason for the command from Paul. He recognized that both genders respond well to competent MALE leadership. We need to consider that men are heavily outnumbered at church. Please consider other ways to use your gift. My experience is when a job belongs to a man and a woman steps in to do it, the man is more than happy to let her.
We can always do better but let’s be careful not to water down the standards of Christ in order to be popular with a generation who can’t be criticized lest it damage their self-esteem.
Preach / teach the truth. Obey the word. Pray . Love people. Give out daily cups of cold water. It is what the church has done since Pentecost. No , we are not to be like the church, we are to be like Jesus. Some of the early churches had problems. We do too. Some in the early church evangelized , they prayed, they held up Jesus , preached the Gospel. In that sense thy were following Jesus. So , in that sense , the early church is an excellent example. It is easy to sit back and criticize the church and mention all our mistakes. But it is more important to read and study the word and then beging to apply it. And there is nothing like the local church. That is where you find the real action. I have been hearing about Love Jesus but not the church for 40 years. Nothing new. Theywere saying it back when I was in college in the 60′s . Then it was we do not like the institutional church( whatever that was ) and we had the hippie , dippie movement and there have been statements and new movements and gurus and advocates of change like this for decades. I have been hearing for 4 decades about how we have now found grace. Ok . Now what ? Nothing new. If you want to serve Christ and the church and lost people , then roll up your sleeves ,keep on praying and get busy.
“they like Jesus but not the church” that’s kind of like inviting another couple out to dinner but saying I really like him but let’s leave her at home.
And amen Ray to your last sentence.
Leaving the Church of Christ doesn’t mean I’m leaving “the” church. Thanks, JW!!!
Every time I hear this “nothing new under the sun” scripture quoted, my red flag goes up. It’s almost always used to support something outdated, culturally irrelevant and more in tune with tradition than scripture.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The way to God is not confusing. It’s laid out and emphasized SIMPLY in scripture.
Some people just need a fresh, new start somewhere else. Many will get what they need for their broken spirits elsewhere and come back years, even decades, later. It’s not a one-way door, is it?
Not all tradition is unscriptural. Many times it has become “tradition” because it was based on biblical principles. Sure there are traditions that are wrong, you will find that it any religion. There is no perfection on this earth. The perfect church only exists in heaven.
“There is nothing new under the sun” can also reference that people experience the same things over time. That people like Jesus but not the church is nothing new. As Ray stated he heard that in the 60′s. I’m sure they heard it in the 30′s during another social upheaval. Look at the Restoration movement, the Reformation movement, Martin Luther, you can go on and on. History is like a boiling pot different things rise to the top, but the ingredients are usually the same. Soon we’ll probably be reading books that people are looking for the comfort of “traditional” churches.
I don’t view our relationship to God with doors. God is always welcoming. It’s more like a path. It’s hard to use generalities. I’ve seen some who are always looking, and discontent and never seeming to find their way. Instead of staying with their hand to the plow they are always moving around to different fields and never planting a crop. As with many relationships sometimes relationships with God and our church families are rocky, but instead of staying and working through those people wander off looking for the shiniest religion out there and blaming those hypocritical church people for their own failings in building a relationship with God.
It’s easier to judge those who leave than it is to take a look at ourselves and ask, “what are we doing to alienate people?” If we’re not attracting people, we’re not able to do the work Jesus gave us. I’m so sick of excuses. There’s no excuse for not being welcoming to EVERY person in the world. NO excuse.
Isn’t that the truth! We should all be standing at the door like the father in the story of the prodigal son, looking and waiting for that lost sheep to find its way home. The church I’m a part of accepts the “tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to be free.” We have bankers, those on welfare, those who struggle with alcohol, ex-thieves, divorced, unwed mothers, those who many in society would consider “rejects”, all races, the list could go on and on. It is the most diverse crowd you can imagine but we all have one thing in common –the blood of Jesus washes us. Some fall and pick themselves up, some fall away, many go searching for that shiny religion and some eventually come back. We often say any one is welcome in whatever condition you are in, you’re just not allowed to stay that way. We want all to grow in their relationship with Jesus.
But I think we put too much stock in numbers sometimes. Sometimes we don’t attract people because we are doing the work of Jesus. Jesus said the path is narrow and few there are who find it. Some people want “easy religion” and fall away when a relationship with Jesus means giving up sins in their life.
Anne , Amen. And I would add that Jesus teaches us about hearts in the parable of the soils. And 3 out of 4 do not make it. And it is their fault. Not the Lord, the scriptures or the church.
In the gospels, it is apparent that people in all sorts of spiritual conditions, were drawn to Jesus. He was able to love them perfectly. His message of holiness was so different from that of the pharisees, who had stopped caring about people and seem to mostly care about themselves. As the church, we need to always be looking for ways to love more extravagantly, not watering down the Gospel, but living it.
Isn’t that the truth! We should all be standing at the door like the father in the story of the prodigal son, looking and waiting for that lost sheep to find its way home. The church I’m a part of accepts the “tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to be free.” We have bankers, those on welfare, those who struggle with alcohol, ex-thieves, divorced, unwed mothers, those who many in society would consider “rejects”, all races, the list could go on and on. It is the most diverse crowd you can imagine but we all have one thing in common –the blood of Jesus washes us. Some fall and pick themselves up, some fall away, many go searching for that shiny religion and some eventually come back. We often say any one is welcome in whatever condition you are in, you’re just not allowed to stay that way. We want all to grow in their relationship with Jesus.
But I think we put too much stock in numbers sometimes. Sometimes we don’t attract people because we are doing the work of Jesus. Jesus said the path is narrow and few there are who find it. Some people want “easy religion” and fall away when a relationship with Jesus means giving up sins in their life.