This is not to suggest that we should treat sin as insignificant! We must be clear in"fencing the table" and the requirements of membership. Only those submitting to Christ can partake of him! But we can do that in such a way that allows others who are "not yet there" to progress slowly.

Unlike with previous generations, most inquirers today are not just one step away from "getting it." Our experience has seen the process of conversion often taking many small steps. People have needed space for exploring questions and the ability to move slowly into the life of Christian obedience.

Yet Jesus also is supremely gentle: "a bruised reed he will not break." He thoughtfully and patiently addresses each person's uniquely complex enslavement to sin. He moves toward Zaccheus before he repents, carefully converses with the woman at the well, endures Peter's repeated failures.

In the same way, the only way for us to love those who are curious, those who are occupying the borders of our church community, is to be unwavering in our pursuit of their spiritual maturity, to speak honestly and openly about the gospel and always seek to help move them forward towards Christ.

Jesus set his "face like flint," never wavering in his calling and all it entailed, despite all the opposition. And he never compromised his preaching: "To belong to me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me."