Why RE.THINK Church? Part 2

Why RE.THINK Church part 2:
Casual
ˈkaZHo͞oəl/
relaxed and unconcerned
Growing up in the 1980’s and 1990’s life was all about how you looked, the acid washed jeans, guess, huge hair, we could go on and on… look around all that is back!   

​I remember waking up every Sunday and wanting to wear my jeans and a t-shirt, but no I couldn’t.  I had to dress up, put on my Sunday best.  The funny thing is I remember doing all this, but not doing my hair.  My hair was a mess most Sunday, but at least I wasn’t wearing jeans!  

One Sunday, in between our Sunday School and church service, I asked an adult, "if someone can’t afford dressy clothes can they come to church?”
The adults response has shaped me ever since, but not in a good way.  

The response I got was essentially like this, “If you can’t afford dressy clothes church is the least of your worries…” the adult caught himself after those words, but the damage was already done.  Like toothpaste that has been squeezed out of the tube he couldn’t put the words back in his mouth.  There was no recovery for him, his attitude is one that I’ve seen in several churches throughout America. He just happened to voice it.  

When I think of a church a place that should be known for grace, mercy, love and kindness. I shudder at the idea that church is known for the thing most people get dressed up in order to encounter Jesus.  Pastor Jud Wilhite states in his book, Uncensored Grace, “Sometimes people who have it together externally are a mess internally.”  Let’s not fool ourselves here, dressing up doesn’t make you any more godly.  

I’d rather have someone show up in what they can afford, what they are comfortable in. As long as bits and pieces are covered and there are no disrespectful writing or graphics, then we’re good.  

Having a casual church isn’t all about the dress code though.  

We understand that the message of Jesus and living life the way He intends us to live, can be a  very difficult thing to live out.  We get it, we are still striving to do the same here.  Creating a casual church goes beyond the dress code and into the terms of how people mature through their relationship with Christ.  

People are in control of the pace at which they want to take their next right step.  We’ll explain everything up front as much as possible, but we expect people to take the journey as they see fit.  We’re here to journey with you along the way!   

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