Come As You Are

I had a conversation last week with June that went like this:

Me - I'm thinking of writing a blog called "Come As You Are"
June - Like the song?
Me - Like the scripture...duh!

However, I immediately thought "maybe that's not a scripture..." so I went on a quest for the red letter verse (I'd take black letter as well) that said: "Oh ye sinners, come as ye are...and I will give ye rest" (KJV).  Something along those lines.

RIP Hall of Famer!

But alas, there was no such divinely inspired Word. There's only an old Nirvana song and the memoria of pastors and missionaries saying "come as you are" in sermons and religious conversations when I was a kid/teenager.

While there is no specific passage that says "come as you are" we know that the concept is biblical. "Come as you are" simply means you don't have to "clean yourself up" prior to coming to Christ. It means there's no prerequisite to salvation (Mark 2:17). Which is awesome!

I went back and forth between titling this post: "Come As You Are" or "Take Me As I Am" (see Faith Hill or Mary J...depending on your musical tastes).  Why? Well, when it comes to relationships, these two phrases speak to the "dream" situation. At one point or another, we've all said that we want someone who "loves me for me." When we want someone to love us and our crap, we have a "Take Me As I Am, don't try to change me" mentality. Additionally, we bask in the idea that our crap is just so darn lovable that the other person is thinking "Come As You Are, because I wouldn't change a thing!" That would be TRUE love. Right?

We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us...1 John 3:16

OH, so that's true love. Since true love is most obviously manifested in Christ's finished work on the cross, we have to ask ourselves: what is the intended end result of that love?

Be ye transformed!

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:2

 Could we say brainwashed...or is that too hard to handle?

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18

Could you imagine your face changing into someone else's face in the mirror? 

...in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. - Ephesians 4:22-24

He'll take you as you are right now, but then...Extreme Makeover: Mind, Body, Soul Edition.

How is it that what we expect out of our carnal relationships is not at all what we can expect from a relationship with God? We want someone to accept us as we are instead of trying to force us to fit this image of the perfect girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife/friend.  And though it's true that God wants you to "Come as you are!", He also intends for you to leave totally changed. He plans to conform you to the image of His Son. Isn't it a little freaky to think of it in those terms? We have this idea that a person can love us so much that they never try to change us. But God loves you enough to change you! To change your whole life.

...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  - John 10:10

Why is that so scary?