No Perfect People Allowed

During my final year in seminary I took a class on evangelism.  It was absolutely the worst class I paid for during all three years of my education!  My professor was a shameless advocate of proclamation evangelism.  His extensive background with Campus Crusade for Christ drove the entire class.  He was convinced that the best form of evangelism--and in his view, the only biblical form--was to give a full presentation of the gospel and demand a response from whoever was willing to listen.  To do anything less was not sharing the good news.  Due to this conviction, we were required to give a presentation of the gospel and ask for a response six times throughout the semester.  Interestingly, I didn't hear of a single person becoming a follower of Jesus the entire semester.  

Now, let me be clear, I have nothing against Campus Crusade for Christ.  I know several people who have been positively impacted by this ministry.  Moreover, there might even be times when God's Spirit prompts someone to share the good news with another person they have never met before.  I think we all need to be open to the Spirit on a moment-by-moment basis.  But I am also under the strong persuasion that effective evangelism is predominately relational.  Walking alongside people in meaningful relationships--patiently exploring with them various obstacles and barriers that stand in the way of them and Christ--is the most effective way to bring people to Christ.  

That is where the book No Perfect People Allowed comes in.  This book is fantastic.  I wish we had been required to read it during our evangelism class.  And I would encourage anyone involved in church to read this book!  John Burke masterfully articulates how his leadership team is committed to reaching people for Christ by creating a church culture where no perfect people are allowed.  Gateway Community Church works hard at creating a "come as you are" culture so that people can explore what it means to follow Jesus in a safe environment.  This community is committed to developing relationships with people outside of the church in order to influence them for Christ.  

And guess what!  It is working!  John shares story after story of homosexuals, sex addicts, pornography addicts, drug addicts, atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, pantheists...etc. becoming followers of Jesus and then engaging in active service within the church!  And because Gateway is open to every person, they have been forced to wrestle with the most difficult issues in our postmodern culture--issues of tolerance, various world religions, sexual orientation, sexual promiscuity, materialism, and so on.  John carefully explains how his church has dealt with these issues--by walking alongside people--without negating God's truth as revealed in Scripture.  The conviction that small group environments are a crucial place for people to explore a relationship with Christ was outstanding.  

I would recommend No Perfect People Allowed to anyone committed to advancing God's kingdom through the church.