We’re continuing our Mythbusters series.

Unfortunately, there is a myth out there that church in general is only for the so called ‘clean’ people.  That before you walk in the doors of a church, or attend a service, you’d better clean up your act, dress the part, and act as if everything is perfect in your life.  Nothing could be further from the truth at Crosspoint.  We often that say that ‘perfect people’ are not allowed at Crosspoint.

In Mark 2:17, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  Jesus wasn’t interested in ministering to the self-righteous religious leaders or to those who did not think they were in need of a Savior.  In other words, He opposes the proud (James 4:6a).  Jesus instead came for and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6b).  For the people who, by God’s grace, become aware of their need for a Savior in their life.  People who understand where they stand in light of God’s holiness, and as a result are aware of their brokenness, imperfection, and sin.

The word ‘clean’ in the blog title is in quotes for a reason, because ultimately, there are no ‘clean’ or perfect people.  The Bible says we’ve all fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and no one is righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10).  In other words, no one is born into a right standing with our Holy Creator.  We’re all in desperate need of the love of God that was shown to us through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

As a result of knowing that truth, then we are not trying to earn or obtain our salvation through works.  Salvation is by grace and through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), because of that, it is truly a gift from God (Romans 6:23).  Because salvation is completely a work of God, and nothing that we’ve done to deserve it, then you and I don’t sit at the center of our faith.  Jesus does.  So I don’t have to pretend that somehow I am just that awesome to earn salvation or that I never blow it.  I don’t have to pretend to be someone I am not.  My righteousness is not in who I am or what I have done, but is who Jesus is and what He has done.

In church world, the temptation is to put on masks or try and clean up the junk in our lives before coming to Jesus, or before getting honest with a brother or sister in the family of God.  Or if we are a follower of Jesus, and we find this pattern of sin in our lives, then we’re tempted to try and ‘fix it’ on our own, or simply run from the Body of Christ.

At Crosspoint, our heart as a church is to remove the masks, and have a church community that is authentic and loving toward one another.  A church full of people who are seeking to be changed by Jesus, and growing to love Him and love others more and more.

Jesus hung out with the ‘sinners and tax collectors’ of His day, which were the people at the bottom of the social ladder.  The religious leaders thought, “well, those people are not ‘good enough’ to follow God.  They have done too much, or have too much history.”  But praise God, Jesus comes in the flesh, dwells among us, and turns that self-righteous thinking completely upside down.

Our desire at Crosspoint is to reflect the heart and love of our Chief Shepherd, Jesus.  That here at Crosspoint, no matter people’s background, the baggage, or the hurt in a person’s life, that people would be able to discover who Jesus is, give their life to Him, and see Him do the restoration work that only He can do.  Crosspoint Community Church was not started for the righteous, but for the sinners.  The people like you and me, who are changed forever because of the love of Jesus.

With everything we are, with everything we do, we believe that Jesus changes lives, and that absolutely no one is beyond His reach and love.