What do you think of when you read that title? Bad housekeeping? Litterbugs? Well, you might think about people in terms of how they complicate your well-run system, and add "mess" to your life as you try to "deal" with the complications this creates.
In the church, we are going to find many messy people of this type, and due to the confusion of our culture, I believe that is only going to multiply, in both number and depth of need on the part of those "messy" people that come to encounter the Lord God and His healing.
Are you ready ... is your fellowship ready.... is the Church ready to face the challenge and deliver real healing and acceptance? Real guidance and correction to "make straight the highway" of their, and our, lives? Because this is something that will change and impact all of us as we move forward. The church must always move forward, it must always be "missional" in temper and essence. That is the progression of the organic, remaining static is not an option, so the choice is always "forward into life"? or "decay into death?"
One type of messy situation we will see is that which Greg Wallace presents in New Hope and Life Ministry. Those who are broken through sexual addictions and lifestyles, who yet long for relationship with a Holy God and acceptance among the forgiven and redeemed.
I'm glad to see that there are those called through their brokenness to minister life and truth, and healing. Be ready, in your church, for those in some of these messy situations who are going to take up the Master's call to come to the waters, bringing their burden of sadness and shame to the cross. That is what we have done, and in that spirit it will be expected, from the Master, that we welcome all, who like us, answer the call to be found and restored. Found by a loving Savior, restored to the life and love of our Creator.
It's messy, I know.
