So, today is my first official day in the office at First Assembly. And while some of my time, thus far, has been spent situating my things, other tasks have included setting up a second computer in my temporary office, dismounting a computer keyboard drawer, and framing a slightly comical glamor-shot-like picture of Jesus… on a white horse… in a crown and… is that a cape?! — …riding atop a gloriously lit patch of cumulus clouds. Oh and… yes, he is White with flowing brown hair, too. And no, it wasn’t a joke.

Let me stop right here to give my two cents… I know that some of you would find such an image to be very inspirational and would take offense if anyone dared make fun of this Revelation illustration while others of you would suppress your gag reflex at such a cheesy depiction of our Lord, reaching for the nearest trashcan or box of matches to destroy the eyesore. Is it a difference in taste?

Doubtful… I dare say that some of those who would defend the portrait wouldn’t actually like it, but would feel that, just because it is Jesus, it should be exempt from quality judgement. This fundamental difference in how people look at products and services in the Christian sector, I think, does much to define the difference between churches who are operating in the creative Spirit of God to repackage the Truth in a way that attracts a target audience… and churches who are either still doing it the same way it was done fifty or a hundred years ago or who are using the shotgun method of ministry…- try a little bit of everything and surely something will hit.

What if there really are poor-quality goods and services? What if the evaluative selection that we demand in everyday consumerism is the same consumerism that the un-churched come into our doors with? Maybe it’s time that we begin to realize that there really is such a thing as boring music, impotent preaching, and cheesy art. The rest of the world realized this long ago… And perhaps that’s why the Church, as a whole, has lost touch with the people.

God became flesh in order to die in our place… But while He was flesh, He used the time that He had to model innovation, compassion, leadership, training, delegation, spirituality, and faith. The disciples and the leaders of the early church modeled these as well. Yet, somehow, Christendom has managed to twist that model into traditionalism and entrenched my-way-ism.

The fact is, we are called to be fresh and alive in the creative power of our God… not copy-cats of our grandparents’ religion. In their time, they understood this challenge and became the innovators that they needed to be. Their way was exactly what the world needed… at that time. Now it’s our turn to step up and take the Message of Christ to those who need it most in a way that they can and will accept it.

We are each created by God with a personality and style and passion that is all our own. And why would that be instilled in us except to forge a mission and a vision in our souls to be love in action — not the way someone else does it or the way we’re commanded to by the other members of our respective communities of faith — but in a way that reflects that unique personal flavor that only we can offer. When you operate in your very own style, that passion makes you do everything with greater quality and effectiveness.

Stop settling for less than your calling. Someone out there is depending on your God-inspired creativity to finally make it all click for them. Someone out there is laughing at the outdated church and its glamor-shot Jesus and needs you to find a way to make the Gospel real to them… Find your direction, set your goal, and be intentional about getting there.

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… And be sensitive. At the end of the day, you have to realize that your style is not going to appeal to some people. You must allow those who find things that you think hideous, amazing, to thrive in who God made them to be. Help each other to accomplish your respective goals however you can.

That’s why I spent fifteen minutes framing the picture of glamor-shot Jesus… He isn’t on my bulletin board anymore (so I won’t break out in hives!)… but I did a fellow minister the courtesy of preserving and enhancing something that she considers spectacular. The picture hangs beautifully… across the room and out of my line of sight!