No Perfect People Allowed

Recently, I finished the book "No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come as You Are Culture in the Church" by John Burke. The premise of the book was simple: create a culture within the local church which allows imperfect people to feel welcome. Such a goal is simple to define but often difficult to implement.

Today's Emerging generations face new challenges that must be met by church leaders. Now more than ever, people deal with issues of trust, tolerance, truth, brokenness and aloneness. John Burke, pastor of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas and founder of the Emerging Leadership Initiative, has successfully created a culture which meets and addresses these needs.

Throughout this book, John shares insights and suggestions for how church leadership can accomplish such culture creation. His advice is given in the context of hundreds of personal stories and includes many real-life examples of how this approach has worked within the lives of those attending the church. Stories of how atheists, agnostics, drug addicts, alcoholics, sex addicts, and many others came to Christ through such a welcoming environment are not only inspiring but a validation that such an approach does indeed work. As a result, Gateway has created a “Come as you are just don’t stay that way” culture in which all people are welcomed regardless of personal or spiritual background.

As I reflected upon the ideas presented within this book, it was difficult not to consider my own church. Does my church provide an environment where all are welcome? What if a prostitute, homeless person, drug addict, or alcoholic walked in through the front doors on a Sunday morning? How would my church respond?

Moreover, John’s ideas also challenge the notion of community that says that only believers may participate in certain activities within the church. Can a seeker be apart of a Small Group? What if that person is not even a true “seeker” but rather just desiring to come and learn? Would he or she be accepted? Can such a person also participate in outreach projects that the church has within the community?

Such questions need to be examined and answers defined. People who come hungry to be apart of the church and to learn and ask questions need to find acceptance in the local body of Christ. People do not have to be perfect nor authentic followers of Christ to participate in certain activities. Instead of pushing out those who do not look and think like we do, we need to welcome and love. Christ has called His Church to be His hands and His feet within the local community. He wants His disciples to offer His healing and forgiveness and to draw alongside those who desperately want and need it.

Each of us is on a spiritual journey. Each of us is also at a different place within that journey. The question that John poses and all church leaders must consider is “Can I create a culture which encourages others to come as they are?” None of us are perfect. Nor did we come to Christ in perfection. Therefore, we must learn to create a culture which encourages others not to fix themselves and come but rather to come broken. In doing so, we will remind others that the signpost in front of the true Church of Jesus Christ still reads what it has always read: “No perfect people allowed”.


Joshua