We were discussing Scripture when she mentioned her boyfriend, his tattoos, piercings, and time spent in jail. He was trying to change and make his life right and because of that resolution, had began reading his Bible every night.

“That shocks a lot of people,” she said and then explained, “Because he doesn’t look like someone who would read the Bible.”

You can imagine what I wanted to ask, but didn’t because she asked another question which became the major issue at the moment. However, later I tried to process her statement.

What does someone who studies the Bible look like? Are they upper middle class? Do they hail from only the Bible belt? Do they wear expensive suits while driving their luxurious cars to their million dollar buildings every Sunday morning?

Has it been forgotten that our Savior was a homeless man who ran with a blue collar crew? Although the son of God, he wasn’t liked by the church crowd.

He was a religious rebel who preached a message that was contrary to the mainstream. He was a King with a cross instead of a palace.

Have we given the impression that if people don’t look like us or dress like us then they aren’t worthy of being saved? I want to think that we haven’t but too many times I’ve had someone tell me that they can’t come to worship because they don’t have nice clothes.

Maybe dressing up isn’t that important. Maybe Sunday mornings should be more about the Christ and less about if our shoes match our designer bags or if our tie is on right.

Maybe it’s time to unlock the lobby doors, open the stained-glass windows, and go into the world.

Let’s tell others about the Nazarene who didn’t look like someone who would save a multitude from their sins. Let’s tell them about Jesus.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20, KJV).

–Paula Harrington @ www.forthright.net