I am proud of my church. Take a peek at this short video to see why. A contact I’ve been praying for six months finally accepted my invitation to come to church. Would my own church welcome my friend?
(Feed Readers, you may need to click through to the article to see the video).
My friend was nervous.
My friend came to church after months of prayer and months of conversations and multiple invitations to church. With the launch of a brand new sermon series, it was a good time for him to make a visit.
I’ve been watching his spiritual curiosity growing as we spend time together.
His only religious experience was from some of his childhood, but as an adult, church going was not part of his life.
His only current church experience is what he sees portrayed on television when he happens to watch it. He might catch 5 minutes of the dancing worship, and then return an hour later while flipping channels to see that the people are still dancing.
Would we be like what he’s seen on TV?
My friend knew nobody but my family.
He choose to come. That would mean walking into a strange place, different people, a new face in the crowd.
- Would he feel welcomed?
- Would our church family talk with him?
- Would he feel safe, respected, and impressed enough to return?
Does my church have a welcome vision?
Here was a real test.
Since I teach on church hospitality, I felt like I was being put to the test in my own life.
Would our church rise to the occasion and welcome our guest? Did they get the hospitality vision of welcoming the stranger? Would they welcome the church visitor?
Or would I feel like my friend would be ignored and never want to come back.
Watch the video to find out.
3 Questions for you
- Does your church really have the vision of hospitality?
- How do you help nervous visitors feel safe?
- Who can you invite to church this week? Do you believe your guest would be welcomed?
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Video: Share your faith and Change a life
People are nervous to attend ‘your’ church because they have different ideas about church. They will not, can not be accepted into ‘your’ church, otherwise ‘your’ church couldn’t be ‘your’ church. A nervous person needs to join a church they agree with, or start their own church, (‘my’ church),something too many people have done because they are still nervous about attending God’s church.
You point out a limit of our language.
“My church” could signify something I own, control and possess – it signifies ownership. That’s my car, my house, my pen vs that is their house, their car, their pen.
“My church” could signify something I belong to or am connected with. I belong to that local church vs. the local church across town. My friends go to their church (where they belong) and I go to my church (where I belong).
Each church is a local expression of the body of Christ. Each church should be attentive to the newcomers who are coming so as not to put up unnecessary barriers to the hearing of the Gospel.