Stripped

I just finished reading another one of Jud Wilhite's books. This one is called Stripped: Uncensored Grace on the Streets of Vegas. You can buy it here. This book is absolutely worth your time to read.

One of the main things that stuck out to me in the book, and that I am still wrestling with revolve around three words, Belong, Believe, Behave.

So many times in our churches we expect people to follow the progression of needing to believe and/or behave before we accept them.

But Jud turns this idea on its head and says, "Many churches are more or less reversing this order out of live for people far from God. Their philosophy is first you belong (you're loved), then you believe, and finally you behave.

Why should se expect people who are far from God to behave like a follower of Jesus should behave. Shouldn't we simply love people where they are, love them and disciple them to a place where they can cross the line of faith, and once they are a follower of Jesus they are challenged that their behavior should match the talk.

I pray that Cherry Hills can be a church where people feel like they can belong before they are expected to believe and behave.