Wednesday was a YFC day in London. I like travelling by train and using the time to catch up on reading. I’m reading The Provocative Church, as you know, and it seems the central message of the book is that to provoke a reaction we need to live Jesus centred lives.

By this, I mean, to be attractive there needs to be something different about the way the Christian community lives. If people look at us and see that our relationship with Jesus makes us no different from anyone else then why on earth would they ever consider seriously looking at our faith?

If people look in the church and see fighting, jealousy, anger, hatred, competition they are surely going to think … why thats not real is it! Thats no different than I have at the moment! So what is the point of me looking at that?

People should be able to look in at the church and see something radically different. Not madly, way out different, but Jesus style different. People that speak out for justice, people that care for those around them, people that love their friends, people that accept others unconditionally, people that are willing to put the needs of others first. People that will feed the hungry, clothe the cold, home the homeless, visit the lonely and so on.

As individuals we can do this and make a little, but still significant, impact. As churches if we do this it really gets noticed and we can transform communities. When that happens the ‘why are you doing this’ question is provoked – although that is not why we should do it. We do it because Jesus teaches us that is what he wants us to do.

I read that yesterday and wanted to stand up in the train carriage and shout “YES!”

But then…2 ladies came on the train. They sat opposite me. One just kept talking. She talked and talked without breathing. She moved seamlessy between unlinked topics with skill and ease. I thought I should give her my didgeridoo as she must have mastered circular breathing! I was getting angry because I wanted to read my book on how to be a provocative caring loving christian. I wanted to make my notes so I could share ideas. I wated material for my blog!

I feel like crap now to think how I could have missed the point so so badly!