One of the local news stations did a story last week called “ Jesus Freaks”. No it wasn’ t about DC Talk. They interviewed Pastor Josh Kidd who leads Hope For The Hopeless. The story was about Christians with tattoos and piercings. I was proud of Josh for reminding us of three things through the interview.

1 ) Tattoos Don’ t Save People…Jesus Does! Rebelling against societal norms may be a lot of fun but it doesn’ t change the deadness of the human heart. Skinny jeans, tats, piercing, and whatever other subculture flags we wave are at best accessories and at worst false gods we worship that leave us enslaved.

2 ) Suits Don’ t Save People…Jesus Does! Here in the buckle of the Bible Belt, moralistic, external self-righteousness has more followers than Justin Bieber on Twitter. Comparing our selves to other people who we think are obviously more lost than we, tells us more about our own hard hearts than theirs. If going to church is a way for you to stand up in the temple and pray, “ I thank you Father I’ m not like this sinner” you have missed the point. More importantly you have missed the cross.

3 ) Our Target Demographic Is The Desperate Jesus died on the cross for the kid with tats and the businessman in the suit. The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 tells the story of two sons who were both separated from the love of the Father. One cashed out his inheritance into singles and headed for Vegas. The other practiced external obedience while his heart what full of rebellion. Both needed a savior to bring them into the love of the Father. Jesus was working to save tax collectors and prostitutes, but he also was working to save the religious elite who didn’ t think they needed His blood.

Frontline’ s target demographic has nothing to do with tats or suits. The Gospel is not about the “ good guys” vs. the “ bad guys” . It says we are all bad guys who can’ t save our selves. It has everything to do with hearts. We want to go after anyone and everyone who knows they are broken and need help no matter how they look. Jesus’ death on the cross was necessary to pay for the sins of the “ freak” and for the sins of the “ model citizen”.

- Josh Kouri