Out of the (church) box.

In the last 24 hours I have spent time with someone church planting in Leeds, spent time talking with two barmaids in a pub in North Scotland and read an anti church rant from a fellow blogger - also had a son upset being told he was a failure by his teacher.

What is this about then?
The barmaids talked about what was great about their town - Elgin - and what wasn't, interested that we were thinking of 'doing something' in their area - and didn't step back when they realised I was from a church. In fact were very positive.
My companion on this trip was Andrew who is church planting in Leeds - he talked of the success and failures of his expereince - they were all grounded and realism and recognised that people within the church were challenged and challenging. Not everything has been sweetness and light and not much hypocrisy either.
The son who returned from school not only downhearted but scared and worried by the words of a teacher. Not a failure just someone who didn't fit in the box that they wanted him to fit in.
And my ranting blogger friend? again someone who feels that he doesn't fit in the church box and won't be squeezed to fit in either.

The church for me is something that is deliberatley non-conformist, counter cultrual, contrary and full of challenges - but it is something better belonged to rather than exited from because it's mighty difficult to change something from the outside.

Staying in the box is sometimes the most effective way of changing the shape of the box - and of those that share the space with us - as for people judging us - let them judge. God is my judge and him alone.