If I can be real, and not some “higher than thou” figure that looks down on those that don’t meet certain standards…
If I can be down-to-Earth, and not some preacher-idol on a pedestal…
If I can be approachable, and not a minister that runs from the flock, and their questions…
If I can be fallible, imperfect, rough around the edges, but always striving to sharpen myself and others…
If I can tear down traditional expectations and stereotypes of what it means to be a “minister”…
If I can show people that a real God loves me in all my imperfections and loves them in theirs…
If I can let people know that we don’t have to be perfect, agree on everything or meet some standard of what the religious call holiness…
Just maybe, I can reach someone with the truth of the Gospel and see them set free.
Just maybe, someone will give God another chance…
Just maybe, someone will start thinking for themselves…
We are not defined by what people think of us, but people ARE defined by what God thinks of them. They need to know that God loves them.
The eyes of legalism blind people to the freedom of the Gospel.
The facades of preachers upholding the unsustainable expectations of perfection produces the same result.
Get real.
By: Bishop Joshua Maynard