No perfect people allowed

I am beginning to read this great book by John Burke. It's about creating a culture within the church that is welcoming and accepting to even the worst of sinners. John told a story in the book that really got me thinking. Here is a condensed version of the story


"In 1986 I was traveling through Asia with a couple friends when we decided to tour a Buddhist temple. Every sight and sound provoked a new question.Why was there a tree with money all around it? where we supposed to throw money down? would they be offended if we didn't? Why was there a woman standing by the gate with her head shaved? What was she doing with the beads in her hand?


as we stood by the wall listening to the mesmerizing hum of the chants rise and fall a million questions began to form in my head. why do they do this? What does it do for them? Am I an intrusion or will I be welcome here? Will they be mad at an "outsider" an "unenlightened one" has invaded their space?


Then everything changed. A gong sounded and everyone got up. Some went over and kissed the statues. My heart raced as I looked around the room for clues as to what to do. Were we supposed to bow? why were they bowing? Will I be insulting them if i don't bow?.... I wanted to escape the awkwardness that I felt.


Just then a kind-looking young man came to us signaling us with a smile to follow him. we made our way out to the courtyard as the lamas resumed their chants. He spoke to us in plain English, but his words were still foreign to us, as he tried his best to explain the things we saw and heard."
From "No Perfect People allowed" pg 55


This story really got me thinking. Every time new people come into our church, it can seem as strange to them as going to a Buddhist temple would be for us. They don't know the rules, so they automatically feel out of place. They don't know if they should sit or stand, will we be offended if they don't sing? They don't know the bible, or how to decipher the christian lingo that we speak. and they don't know if their questions will offend us, or if we'll still accept them if they voice their skepticism.

so it's up to us to be patient, and lovingly explain our culture to those who come into our doors, and to be accepting of everyone who comes in, despite our prejudices, and expectations. In fact, I think we need to get rid of any expectations that we have. Christ came and spent time with the worst society had to offer. Thieves and sinners, even a woman who was caught in the very act of adultery. The law said she should be stoned to death, but Jesus chose to forgive.

So my question is... If the very scum of the earth started to attend the church that you attend, how would you react? Would our response be to conform them to our image, or could we accept them as they are and let God work in their lives?