Did you hear about the notice outside a church building, which said, 'Only sinners welcome here!' ? Apparently, some of the regulars were most upset, as they mistakenly believed that they were better than those who didn't ever attend.
Much more engaging as a description of a church's welcome policy, and more in line with the approach of Jesus, is 'No Perfect People Allowed'. If that is true, then there is hope for everyone.
Jesus was often criticised for hanging out with the wrong crowd. 'Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!' (Luke 15.1,2)
Earlier in the story, Jesus had been attacked for the company he kept. 'But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”
When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Mark 2.16-17)
One of the dangers in 'religious circles' is that many people feel they must try to appear better than they are -as though we were in a moral beauty contest. But the Gospels show us that while we cannot deceive Jesus, nor should we try to deceive one another. It is much better for us all if we live by the maxim, 'No Perfect People Allowed', knowing that God's mercy meets all who turn to Him.
Great news.
Best wishes,
Richard
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