Misfit toys

During our series on a Christmas Family I referenced the classic movie, "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" and the island of misfit toys. A place where all the mixup up, dysfunctional toys go. The King of the island seeks these toys out, gives them a new home, with other misfit toys. They are all wanting to be needed, loved, valued and a part of a real family.

It's that what we all want, and yet we find it so hard to admit that we're all "misfits".
We're dysfunctional in someway.

The church has long been said to be a place where "anyone can come." "Come as you are with hurts, pains, and dysfunction." Yet the church often communicates shock, awe and rejection when the misfits really show up.
Shame on the church.

The King of Kings (Jesus/ God's son) came to live among us and bring us into his family. He came to us in our dysfunction... "come as you are." It's not God that is pushing people away...it's the church, us. It's those that find it hard to admit or remember that they were once a misfit toy as well.

I pray that this Christmas, we return to that simple truth, revealed by God.
"Come as you are."
Transformation will happen as you live in this amazing family and develop a real relationship with God.
But it will happen over time.
So I put a challenge out to myself, my friends, my church and the church at large.

Open wide your doors, let all the misfits and dysfunctional people come and find faith, love and hope this year.
My your home and churches be an island of refuge for the misfits of the world, not those who think that they have it all together.
I'm a misfit. I admit it. Welcome to the island of misfit toys called Journey church.