A Kingdom Looking Church

So imagine you're sitting in your conservative, middle class church and suddenly an ex-convict walks in, all covered in tattoos and looking as intimidating as ever, you can already hear the elderly woman behind you fumble around for her purse and draw it closer, Mothers call over and embrace their children, Fathers stand back to the point where they feel like they look intimidating but one look and they'd be out the door. If you cannot imagine this and the hostility that would surround it then wow you are already in the kingdom mindset.
             I have to say, I would pay to see the reactions of my home church back in Northern Ireland as this character came in. In actual fact, this happened, it is happening. And more of it needs to happen. Sunday mornings are one of thee most segregated mornings in the world. For one morning on one day of the week for one hour, we lock ourselves in buildings, but all separate, by class, race, ethnicity and rarely do we go outside of them. But this is not the kingdom. What the kingdom will look like. You see the body of Christ is made up of all sorts of people and that is the very beauty of it, no one is excluded.

Our churches need to reflect that. 

            But so often we fall short. This church in New Zealand is specifically helping those who have just left prison. When I read this story, I was so amazingly encouraged, this is what we are about. This is what Christianity is about. And these are the stories where I say "wow! that is the Spirit of Jesus right there". But the thing is, that should not be my reaction, I should not be surprised at this nor should I find this any different than the faith I should see around me. You see this is not the ideal example, the winning example, this is what we should already be doing.
            How are we reflecting Jesus within our churches, do we really mean our "Everybody Welcome" which we put on our doors, or are we only welcoming to those who are just like us. I would say that if your church is selective about its congregation, then its not a church at all. Jesus wasn't selective about who He spoke to. He was ridiculed for who He spoke to. People looked down upon Him for eating with sinners, talking to prostitutes, being with those of lower social standing. But this never stopped Him.
            The Christian invite belongs to everyone, no matter what their past, their background, family, nothing matters, for we are equal when we stand before the cross. This article is one every church needs to read. Not as a "wow, look at them doing cool work" but as a "how are we accommodating various peoples?", if your church isn't diverse...it isn't accommodating...and that is the sorry truth. I hope this article both inspires but also helps you to see what we need more of in our churches and what the kingdom looks like.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19153425