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Chapter 2: Accessibility

There is only one way to effectively change the world for Christ: to get the message of Christ to the world! But sometimes we make that so difficult. The world will not be won to Christ because the programs at our church run really smoothly, the by-laws cover every possible scenario, or because our building is amazing. The world won't be won for Christ until Christians decide to make the love, joy, and life found in Christ more accessible to everyone.

There are many things that stand in the way of people coming to know Christ. Arron deals with two physical things in this chapter, because they should be an easy place to start working: Clothing and Church Buildings.

We've all heard the debate about what you should wear to church. On the one hand, if you don't wear a suit to church then you don't love God, and on the other, God doesn't care what I look like so I'm coming in my pj's. It's funny that we don't have this conversation many other places than church. I understand dress codes. I understand that when I go to a wedding, I need to wear a suit. I understand that when I play basketball, I'm going to need shorts and basketball shoes. I understand that when I come to work, I need to wear 'business casual' clothes so that I can interact with people without intimidating them. So dress codes aren't really a problem for me, but the problem is that God doesn't really give us one! Arron hits it right on the head when he says, "I just refuse to clothe the grace of God in a suit or a dress and require that lost men and women meet a dress code before they can meet Jesus."

Just because someone doesn't wear a tie to church doesn't mean he doesn't love God. It probably means that he hates wearing ties (who doesn't), and that he enjoys breathing. This doesn't mean that I think we should be sloppy, but there is no dress code for church!

He also says that church buildings can be an obstacle. Many of us don't think of them that way, however they can be nothing more than big boxes that 'isolate Christians from the world (and each other) and sap huge amounts of time, energy, and money that could otherwise be used for outreach and staffing needs.' The first century church didn't have buildings, and they seemed to get along just fine. They met wherever they could and found ways to spread the gospel. Church buildings aren't bad, but they need to be viewed for what they are, a tool. They are not the end all, they are ONE method of getting the message of Christ out. If the building becomes the only method, and we spend all of our time, energy, and money on the building, we are missing the point.

"The church was never meant to be viewed as an immobile box sitting on the corner of Eighth and Main; God intended for us to view the church as a healthy, mobile body of believers moving, walking, through this world." We need to stop spending all of our time hiding inside the church building waiting on people to show up. Odds are that they won't. We need to be thinking of creative ways that we can take the message of Christ to a world that is thirsty to hear it.

"When people who are searching for meaning in this life encounter us, they should find hope, not hate. They should find love, not judgment. They should find us clearing a path, not cluttering it. They should find clarity, not confusion. No one should have to wear the right clothes or walk into one of our church buildings to find life, help, hope, peace, joy, truth, and love. No, accessing these blessings should be as easy as sitting down for a meal with you or me."

Enjoy the Journey