No church congregation is perfect. No church leaders are perfect either. Whether you have a vicar, priest, pastor, deacon, elder, or bishop, their human frailty determines that they will sometimes misunderstand you or be oblivious to your needs. However, it’s not just up to them – we all need to take stock of how we are treating those who are not yet part of our church family.
Not everybody stays away from our doors because they reject Jesus. Some stay away because they have been rejected by us.
I’m not trying to make you feel guilty. But, we all just need to see things from the eyes of a stranger and help them not feel like they are an outsider.
Many churches excel at welcoming people once they have been attending for a while and are seemingly settled, but others haven’t even been able to get that far. The church members stand in their foyers having private chats with their friends while newbies walk by. Once inside the main building, others glance across at the unfamiliar face while warming their hands on a steaming cup of coffee and don’t consider for a minute that it looks rude to stare and not share. At least go and say hello and let them know where the beverages are!
Others are exemplary when it comes to welcoming people on the door and some of these are large churches with massive foyers. Nobody slips by them. But a few weeks down the line, those newbies have been forgotten, because it is assumed they have settled in nicely. And they have not. They are not sparkling new anymore and feel tossed aside with the other tarnished unpopulars.
Will you join me in making an effort to do what Jesus commanded us to do? Let us love the lost and lonely and keep on loving them after they are found, or we may lose them all over again.
*****
I Stood By the Door
I stood by the door,
It sounded ideal.
They were together,
Their joy was so real.
A church praising God,
For all he has done.
Not ashamed to sing loud,
Not ashamed to have fun.
I heard some laughter,
And it made me cry.
I’m rather confused,
And I feel so shy.
If I open this door,
That blocks me from the rest,
Would they be concerned
About my spiritual quest?
I know a bit about Jesus,
And I’d love to know more,
But will I be someone
They will ignore?
Perhaps, they’ll say ‘Hi’,
And ask me my name
And look through my eyes,
Discerning my shame.
Then they’ll turn away,
And I’ll stand alone,
Trying to be grateful
For the ‘love’ I’ve been shown.
Well, maybe that’s better,
For I’m really quite scared,
I’ll have to give answers
That I’ve not prepared.
What type of questions
Will I be asked?
Will they want to know all
About me and my past?
There’s a board on the grass,
Saying, “All welcome inside.”
But will I find a true friend
In which to confide?
*****
Though I stand in the cold,
With the door tightly closed,
My heart is racing
And I’m feeling exposed.
Am I good enough
To join in their song?
Will I feel I fit in?
Will I really belong?
They all know each other,
Why should they need me?
Is my desperation
Something they will see?
*****
I stood by the door
And the preaching began,
About a Saviour who reached out
To every man.
Will they come out to me?
I’m so scared of rejection!
Could I be part of their group,
Or will they require perfection?
I want what they have,
I want to feel their peace,
And talk to God in a way
That brings a release.
But I’m so uptight
Because of all I’ve heard,
About sowing seeds,
And spreading the Word.
Can they cultivate me?
I need to be planted.
Do they value my soul,
Or just take me for granted?
The thought of knowing Jesus,
Really appeals,
But do they realise
How scary this feels?
If I could sneak in,
Can I sit where I want?
Or will I be forced
To sit at the front?
If there’s a circle of chairs,
That would give me a fright.
Until I’m used to all this,
I want to be out of sight.
When the service starts,
Will there be a cause
For new people to stand,
And receive great applause?
And if I feel uneasy,
Once I’m in there,
And decide to walk out,
Will everyone stare?
Do I need my own songbook?
Should I know the ‘Lords Prayer’?
Are they all dressed up?
Will they judge what I wear?
I so want a family
Who give love without begrudging,
And even though they know my past,
Not a single one is judging.
*****
With tears flowing down,
I stood by the door,
But I couldn’t face
The stress anymore.
I touched the handle,
Then walked off and cried,
Will I ever feel like
I belong inside?
*****
“For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35)
