Today is my first day back in the office since December 23. The past week and a half has been full of much needed rest and refreshment…and today I am hitting the ground running.
We kicked off the New Year at MCC by spending some time reflecting on an idea that is central to who we are as a church: You can come as you are!
Of course this means that you don’t have to wear a three piece suit to come to church, but deeper than that, it means that you don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to be perfect or pretend to be perfect. You don’t have know all there is to know about God, Jesus, or the Bible.
You just have to come…just as you are…and you will find God’s arms, wide open, to love and receive you.
How does this idea of “come as you are” land in your life?
Josh Scott 
I love that, as a youth pastor, I don’t have to police students on what they’re wearing or how they act. Our statement to our students is “It’s OK to be where you are with Jesus. It’s just not OK to stay there.” We are seeing students who appreciate this feeling that they don’t find often anywhere else in their lives. Acceptance and belonging… And I love it, because I need it in my own life as well. I’m so proud to tell people that I go to THAT church!
JL
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I am very proud to say I attend, and a member of THAT church. I will admit, at first I was leary of “come as you are” statement, but it is so awesome once you explore the real meaning of it. It is so simple to think that God is exactly that accepting and to think I wasn’t. The point you said yesterday that stood out to me was when we talk about them, we are talking about us. Us, as the group that is the recovering sinaholic, try every day to not fall off the wagon.God makes everyday a new day for us to try to do our best ,not to make a mess out of what He has and continues to do for us. Renee
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We have no choice but to come to Jesus just as we are….undeserving, tarnished, broken, beaten down, sinful, retched, and blind. There is nothing we can do to deserve it or earn it. Grace is free to all who believe and accept it. Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. KJV
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