March 19, 2024

I’m not able to attend church these days, but when I did, I was one of whom I speak to below.

This is a letter to the Church, born again believers, Christ followers, those who have dedicated their lives to the gospel message in whatever place God has put them.

When it comes to new people walking into our churches, we have lost the plot! Big time!

A few years ago, when I was able to attend, I walked into a new church. Before that first Sunday, I had visited the pastor a couple of times, so when I walked into church that first Sunday, the pastor came over and greeted me with a hug.

Ok, that was nice. He introduced me to a few people who were hanging around him, then he passed me to a gentleman to help me find a seat. Ok, that was also nice. As he introduced me to a couple of single ladies who were about my age, I thought ‘great’ and was hoping it could be my new home church.

But here’s where the ball got dropped. On subsequent Sundays people nodded their heads but didn’t say hello, and I was left by myself to go sit with the two ladies. Only the pastor came over to welcome me. After the service, people either went home or gathered for coffee and a visit. I thought I’d venture into the coffee room, thinking to meet more people.

Wrong! Not one person came over. They all gathered in their own little circle of friends. How alone and out of place did I feel? Very!

And please, don’t ask, ‘why didn’t you go up to people to meet them instead of waiting for them to come to you?’ Honestly? It isn’t even easy walking into a room full of strangers, never mind walking up to them.

I left the church and didn’t go back. No one took the time to get in touch with me, not the two ladies I sat with a few times, and not the pastor.

I would have been easy to find.

These days pastors seem to agree that the time for Jesus to return is imminent and are admonishing everyone to ‘get ready’. But we don’t even have concern for strangers who might not be ready, who venture inside the door of our church.

Most churches have specified ‘greeters’ hanging about the doors to greet everyone. It’s their duty, their assigned Sunday, and I have to wonder, where are they when it’s not ‘their’ Sunday?

And, what happens after someone is greeted? Most are left to walk by themselves, into the sanctuary to find a place to sit, alone.

It’s a feeling of intense vulnerability.

It’s very intimidating.

It’s very unfriendly.

It’s very hurtful.

It takes a lot of courage to walk into a church door for the first time. Can we not even go to them? How many people have walked right back out and never gone back?

I am not unique in this experience. I don’t even have to hear other stories to know this is true.

We are the ‘Family’ of God and we can’t even be bothered to welcome a stranger into our midst. Romans 5:8 says, ‘But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ Are we not here to emulate God’s love? To show that love to strangers who are still sinners? In Matthew 10:8b Jesus says, ‘Freely you have received, freely give.’

All around us people are dying in their sin, destined for an eternity in hell, yet we still don’t go to them.

Instead of using this time to talk with those we know, or sitting in our usual place, we ought to be at the front door waiting for strangers to come in so we can freely give the love God gave us. We should be inviting them to sit with us, asking for their phone number so we can follow up, invite them for lunch, invite them the following Sunday, the mid-week meeting, or simply asking, ‘how did you enjoy the sermon?’

Hebrews 13:2 says, ‘Do not forget to entertain strangers….’ We can’t even welcome them into our ‘church’ family gathering, never mind entertaining them in our homes!

Those of you who know me, know I could write a whole lot more, and I’d like to say more, but I think you get the message.

It’s true that actions speak louder than words, so please, for the sake of Christ and those who are dying in their sin, when they walk into our churches, get out of your comfort zone, see the opportunity and act.

At the end of the day, when we lay on our death bed will we regret all the opportunities we missed in this one simple area of our Christian life?

And when we stand before Christ will we hear Him say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant?’

I know I could do a whole lot better, what about you?