Shoes, purses, watches... the accessories are my thing. Anything colorful or sparkly, it catches my eye.
But let me distinguish, I like those things. I don't LOVE those things.
I'm always excited for a good bargain, cause I just can't see wasting a bunch of money on something that won't last. And just cause it's expensive doesn't mean it will last. But in the end, all these trinkets are wrapping paper. Just cause a box is flashy on the outside, doesn't mean there's anything of value on the inside.
It also works the other way around. Have you ever heard the phrase, "Don't judge a book by its cover?"
The same principle could be applied to church.
If a visitor came to a church service for the first time dressed in fashionable clothes, perfectly coiffed and easily blended in with the rest of crowd, they would likely be greeted and welcomed.
But what if someone came to your church dressed in second-hand clothes? What if they wore jeans to church on Sunday morning?!?! What if their shoes had holes in the sole? Would they be made to feel welcome? I think probably so.
But now the hard questions.... what if they were really different? What if they had tattoos or wore black leather to church? What if they had a mohawk or multi-colored hair? What if they had piercings in their nose or tongue? Would these people be accepted at your church?
You know, Jesus loved the misfits. He was always surrounded by a large crowd of folks who were troubled, diseased, afflicted, sad, poor, unloved, broken and weary. Did he send them away because they were different? NO! He said instead, "Come unto me."
As Christians, aren't we called to be "Little Christs" spreading His love and His message in this world? Maybe we could be really bold and even invite some misfits to church!
Just remember, compared to God's perfection, we're ALL a bunch of misfits. Don't be fooled by the wrapping on the box.
