Accepting
The writer of Hebrews states,
At first I thought there are a lot of “odd balls” here. But they turned out to be some of the nicest people we’d ever met.
Many “Cosplay” (costume play). They dress up as their favourite character and act the part.
My wife and I had never gone before so I loaded her in her wheel chair paid our money and had what turned out to be a very enjoyable few hours. Every time we got a chance my wife asked some of those dressed up for a picture. They were more than willing to let us take their pictures.
What impressed me was everyone we met and talked to not just the vendors and professional actors but those attending, were very polite. Very accepting people.
I attend various other secular events during the year and never have I met people who were so polite. We were genuinely amazed.
Frankly the people were more polite than in some churches we’ve attended.
Over the years I and my wife before she was forced to retire, had been to and performed in lots of churches. Usually when we go to a church other than our own we go to perform. People seen us coming because we wear funny clothing and a big red nose.
You see for several decades we were professional clowns performing both at secular and Christian events.
At church events we presented the gospel message through clowning to both adults and children. People liked what we did and welcomed us warmly.
Sadly however not all people feel welcome in church or Christian circles. I have met many who had such a bad experience in church that they say they would never go again. People I know in the gay community shun especially those churches espousing to be evangelical, because they feel looked down upon. As if they have a “special sin”.
Others have been turned off because of what people say. One man I know met me after church to say he would never be back because someone quote “lectured him on smoking cigarettes”.
Others complained that they were looked down upon because they didn’t “dress right”. Or for that matter “look right”.
I remember one incident when we attended a very large church of a woman in her late forties that after the service stood in the foyer of the church and no one spoke to her. No one had spoken to her other than a greeter at the door the whole time she’d been in church.
I went to speak to her. It turned out we had a mutual friend whom she’d been on the mission field with. In fact she’d just returned from her third time on the mission field. And here she was among believers who didn’t have the time to say hello.
Needless to say she never returned to the church.
Churches should be a place of welcome. As Christians we should not be judging anyone. The apostle Paul said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Think about it if you were visiting a church would you not want someone other than the greeter to say hello?
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
We must do this. As the writer of Hebrews said,
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Keep on loving each other as brothers.
Do not forget to entertain strangers,
for by so doing some people have entertained angels
without knowing it.”
Hebrews 13:1,2.
A couple of days ago now, my wife and I went to a Comicon fair. It’s a place where fans of comic book heros, and sifi, enthusiasts go to meet their favourite characters and the personalities that portrayed them.At first I thought there are a lot of “odd balls” here. But they turned out to be some of the nicest people we’d ever met.
Many “Cosplay” (costume play). They dress up as their favourite character and act the part.
My wife and I had never gone before so I loaded her in her wheel chair paid our money and had what turned out to be a very enjoyable few hours. Every time we got a chance my wife asked some of those dressed up for a picture. They were more than willing to let us take their pictures.
What impressed me was everyone we met and talked to not just the vendors and professional actors but those attending, were very polite. Very accepting people.
I attend various other secular events during the year and never have I met people who were so polite. We were genuinely amazed.
Frankly the people were more polite than in some churches we’ve attended.
Over the years I and my wife before she was forced to retire, had been to and performed in lots of churches. Usually when we go to a church other than our own we go to perform. People seen us coming because we wear funny clothing and a big red nose.
You see for several decades we were professional clowns performing both at secular and Christian events.
At church events we presented the gospel message through clowning to both adults and children. People liked what we did and welcomed us warmly.
Sadly however not all people feel welcome in church or Christian circles. I have met many who had such a bad experience in church that they say they would never go again. People I know in the gay community shun especially those churches espousing to be evangelical, because they feel looked down upon. As if they have a “special sin”.
Others have been turned off because of what people say. One man I know met me after church to say he would never be back because someone quote “lectured him on smoking cigarettes”.
Others complained that they were looked down upon because they didn’t “dress right”. Or for that matter “look right”.
I remember one incident when we attended a very large church of a woman in her late forties that after the service stood in the foyer of the church and no one spoke to her. No one had spoken to her other than a greeter at the door the whole time she’d been in church.
I went to speak to her. It turned out we had a mutual friend whom she’d been on the mission field with. In fact she’d just returned from her third time on the mission field. And here she was among believers who didn’t have the time to say hello.
Needless to say she never returned to the church.
Churches should be a place of welcome. As Christians we should not be judging anyone. The apostle Paul said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?
Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside.
“Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
We must in order to properly spread the word of God welcome everyone we come in contact with. Jesus summed things up when he said,“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Think about it if you were visiting a church would you not want someone other than the greeter to say hello?
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
We must do this. As the writer of Hebrews said,
“Keep on loving each other as brothers.
Do not forget to entertain strangers,
for by so doing some people
have entertained angels without knowing it.”
Hebrews 13:1,2.
Please think about it.
No comments:
Post a Comment