Beautiful Transparency
An abandoned daughter discovers her Heavenly Father.
An angry ex-con encounters authentic friendships.
A controlling mother learns to let go and let God.
A one year clean woman mentors a struggling addict.
A relationship destroying alcoholic makes amends.
A guilt-ridden religious woman experiences Grace.
Who are these people?
These are the people Brennan Manning celebrated when he wrote, “There is a beautiful transparency to honest disciples who never wear a false face and do not pretend to be anything but who they are.”
These are the people Jesus had in mind when He said, “I have come not for those who pretend to be well, but for those who know they are sick.”
These are the people Jesus would call the Church.
BUT…
These are the people most churches reject, ignore or outsource to other agencies.
These are the people most churches marginalize, judge, undervalue and under serve.
These are the people most churches hope go somewhere else.
YET…
These are the people who bring huge blessings to the church.
These are the people who teach us how to be transparent and brave.
These are the people who show us that we are all in recovery from the hurts, habits and hang-ups of life.
These are the people who show us that everything is Grace.
These are the people that God is with, and if we are with them, then we are with God.
SO…
Why are people fleeing the church?
Because the church has rejected “these people.”
The very people Jesus said when we serve and love them, we will be blessed.
We too often want the world to change when in reality, the church must change.
If the church is not serving and welcoming and allowing “these people” to lead, then it is really not the church, but more a building, more an exclusive club.
To all “these people” who have inspired me and shown me the way towards healing and God’s Grace...
...Thank you for your example in courage....Thank you for your leadership in transparency....Thank you for your commitment to grace....Thank you for re-introducing me to the presence of God.
May there be a revolution of “these people.”
“It is impossible to meet God without abandon, without exposing yourself, being raw.” Bono