No Perfect People Allowed.

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Book Review.

Burke, John. No Perfect People Allowed. Creating a come as you are culture in the church. Zondervan. 2005

J.B.- pastor of Gateway Community Church, Austin, Texas.

Comment. Henry
One of the primary challenges they came out of a ‘refocusing’ exercise that our church went through in the first half of 07 was to become a church that actually would go out to the community. Waiting for the people to come us (the church) was not a realistic expectation.
John’s story demonstrates that there is a key in experiencing people coming to church. The key is a ‘come as you are culture’. His story is a great read. The experiences of his people, and there are many, are inspiring and give testimony that IT WORKS. The section that I found very moving was the ‘Struggle with Brokenness’. A very practical resource.

The author describes his church as a Corinthian church in a Corinthian culture. The small group is very key in creating a ‘come as you are culture’ at Gateway. “Understanding how culture gets formed and reflecting on your own culture is an essential task of leadership.” (24)

For openers, know your culture. A very devastating by-product of the ‘if it feels good, do it’ generation is a “struggle with trust, tolerance, truth, brokenness and aloneness”. (33) The church must be able to respond to people who have this struggle.

Creating a culture of dialogue is basic to building trust. Dialogue requires respect for opinions that will probably include doubt. The subcultures represent a great diversity that must be accepted and responded to respectfully.

Authenticity must be transparent in a ‘safe church culture’. It will be characterized by acceptance and grace. Grace will go beyond tolerance. “Tolerance does not value people but simply puts up with their behavior or


beliefs.” (91) Out of grace comes acceptance without demanding change. Acceptance is not and must not become condonation. This becomes a challenge.

Wholesome supportive relationships coupled with a commitment to God’s leadership are necessary in a culture of spiritual growth. Without growth life becomes abnormal and threatened.

A ‘come as you are church culture’ will be open to the discussion of various world religions. Realizing the reality of questions beneath the questions being asked sometimes helps in meaningful discussions.

A very compassionate and insightful presentation is giving regarding homosexuals and homosexuality. Actual stories add power to the presentation.

“Culture has redefined truth for thousands of years, yet the truth of God can still penetrate any culture.” (169) Truth needs to be approached as: “humble truth, pragmatic truth, rational truth, and incarnational truth”. (169)

“Incarnate truth does not neglect propositional truth but presents it in love with skin.” (193) The truth of Jesus is displayed in the Body of Christ, (incarnationally). For many, finding faith happens through a “relational connection in community”. (201)

It is crucial that needy people who come to our church(s) experience a “culture of hope”. (205) This message needs to be clear in every part of what happens in our gatherings. It is hard work.

Sexual wholeness is a very relevant topic to address as part of a safe church culture. Part of this discussion includes the concept of “mental monogamy”. (223)

The church must have a culture that really supports and gives help to accomplish recovery and healing for those struggling with every kind of addiction. Addictions are much more prevalent than most leaders realize. This doesn’t happen with a quick prayer. It is usually a long challenging process.


If a church wants to be an effective community organization it must offer help to people struggling with aloneness and lack of connection. Connection can happen “through compassion, pain, service and affinity”. (273)

“God’s restored family changes people in unbelievable ways.” (289) Family (physical and spiritual) is God’s plan to provide the environment for healthy growth and development.

“The hope of resuscitation of the church lies in the hands of its future leaders. (305) Most senior pastors, according to surveys, have gifts in teaching and preaching but not leadership. Traditional training centres (seminaries) are not training the kind of leaders that are required in this emerging generation. It will increasingly become the responsibility of churches to provide this training.