An Image of the Church?

I posted a similar picture of this woman here on my blog and on Facebook yesterday.  On Facebook, it sparked quite a lot of conversation, from folks saying she is off her meds....to folks saying she has inspired them to stand out for Jesus more.   I agree there are lots of ways to look at what she is doing.  It was an interesting conversation yesterday and today.

But I can't quite get the image of this peristent and vocal woman out of my mind.  And what I see is an image of the church.  Too often I fear, the church is like this woman, with one huge exception (and that is we prefer to stay within the confines of our walls).   I fear the church has a very urgent message to share and yet the method we choose to share it doesn't serve us well.  In other words, we are stuck using methods of gospel delivery that might have worked at one time in our history but now are more suspect than effective.   Can we speak the timeless message of love and grace found in Jesus Christ in a way that the people who need to hear it take note and respond in positive ways.  Or do we speak it in such a way that people just pass us by - ignoring the importance of responding to God's love through Christ Jesus?

There is one thing this woman does that the church ought to take note on and respond in similar ways... we need to stop expecting people to come to us.  We need to be comfortable sharing Jesus outside our walls.   We need to find ways to get out into our community to help others come to know who Jesus is and what he can offer them.  

So, for all the downside to how this woman is going about her sharing Jesus, there is a positive challenge as well.