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Jud Wilhite smoked pot for the first time in junior high. Now he pastors Central Christian Church, "a community of grace," in greater Las Vegas, "a messy town." "Do we withdraw into a holy huddle," asks Jud, "or open arms and really start engaging sinners, prostitutes, and tax collectors? Out of my own past, I have a heart for people broken and struggling. I want them to also come to grace, find healing, and take steps to God."

For most churches, belief in Christ is the first step in being part of a church, but you don't really belong until you behave. Out of a love for people far from God, a few churches are more or less reversing this order. First you belong, then you believe, and finally you behave. Since every church is filled with imperfect people, imperfectly following Jesus, they've decided to get over the messiness and get on with helping people experience God's grace.

On any given weekend at Central, there are hundreds of people who wouldn't define themselves as Christians. They're Jewish and haven't yet placed faith in Jesus. Or they're agnostic, but like the music. They may be a mix of many religions, but sense the place is real. They're searching. They belong first—for months or even years—before they believe.

We're honest and straightforward about sin and salvation through Jesus. We don't water down the Bible or the teachings of Christ, but we accommodate in every other way possible. Out of that love, life-change will eventually occur.

Adapted from Stripped (Multnomah, 2006) by permission.

Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Keep us, Lord, from erecting artificial barriers to joining your family.

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