Church - Is it in part about image too?

“Ought I iron my shirts for tomorrow, or meet with a friend in the hope that an evangelistic opportunity might result?” “How do I decide whether to pursue paid gospel ministry, or to continue in my so-called “secular” job?”   As a church how can we most appropriately be a blessing to the community are part of?  Should Bibles and Barbells

The risk can be that we often set up a false-polarity between different types of work - evangelism and ministries of mercy, “spiritual” activities and “stewardship” activities... However, these false extremes are unhelpful. Few people would advocate evangelism to the exclusion of mercy ministries, or that all Christians ought to enter paid gospel ministry to the exclusion of “secular employ”. The question then becomes how to identify a scriptural balance. I wonder whether that balance is found by reference to God’s revealed character.

Evangelism is a right expression of the character of God, as the LORD who exercises his mighty arm to seek and save the lost. But His character also extends to caring deeply for the Fatherless and the widow, to the point of judging people on the basis of their treatment of the marginalised (Sheep & Goats - Matt 25v31-46).  He also displays spectacular creativity in creation... Wonderful order and predictability (and I would argue elegant beauty) in scientific laws... Abundant goodness in his generosity, right down to the rain failing on the wicked and the good... Ought we not to be imaging that as well?   Surely our Christian communities in the light of the gospel ought to be doing no less than Israel in drawing the nations through attractive and wise community life (Deut 4v6-7).

I wonder whether in failing to image God’s character and concerns in all its balanced richness, we inadvertently risk caricaturing God for the watching world...

What is a caricature if not taking particular true aspects of an image and over-emphasising to the exclusion/distraction of other aspects. A caricature of Mick Jagger follows a well-trodden pattern: The head is exaggerated to the exclusion of the body. Within the head, his lips are taken as the most prominent feature. The result - a tiny little body supporting a massive head with a huge mouth.

Now I know that no individual or even local church can do everything. Resources are limited. God doesn't gift his church is identical ways in every community.  But what do we talk about? What do we prize? What do we aspire to be, to influence and to change? What do we speak out for and against? Whose cause are we defending or prosecuting?

As the world looks on at the collective body of Christ, what distortions might it see of God’s image in the church?  Are we inadvertently caricaturing Him?  And isn't that a really serious thing?...

(I know there risks a slight mixing of metaphors here between individuals made "in God's image", and the church as "the body of Christ".  However, given it is mankind in community you are made in God's image and likeness, I'm not too worried about the gentle slight of hand!).