Let me tell you now: asking God to grow His church is a danger to your comfort.
We grow accustomed to the way things are. We build our friendships with people we like. We get into the groove; the way things are around here. We see familiar faces and appreciate familiar forms.
But, Gospel growth threatens all of that.
That means you're left with a choice, you can either have a) Jesus' church grow, or b) a church suit your comfort.
Yes I know, I normally warm you up before I get blunt like that, but there's no beating around the bush with this!
We can't serve ourselves and serve Jesus.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying church, and in fact it should be that way! It is a refuge from the world with your brothers and sisters under Christ. Joy should abound!
Yet what I'm speaking to here, is the way we can start to prefer the atmosphere and people in our local church to such an extent that we are, intentionally or otherwise, cold toward those who would threaten this peace and familiarity.
Many times I have heard stories about people who visited a church looking for Christian fellowship, only to be ignored or held at arms length. It has even been my own experience on occasion. Would you be pleased to find out that was the way people talk about your local body?
We may protest with comments about how good the community/teaching/programmes/morning tea/etc. are, but if the seeker is brushed off at first attempt, it is no wonder they will not stick around to find the value beneath the exterior.
Each person who comes through our door is putting up an emotional investment deposit. Kinda like a down payment on a home. They front up a smaller amount in the hopes they will get the whole package. But, there is a risk that their emotional deposit will be lost and they will walk away empty handed.
It is only the seasoned Christian who is quite comfortable to turn up to an unknown church with relatively little concern. For most people it is a big deal, especially if you're not sure if you actually believe in Jesus or if you've never been to church before. These people are putting themselves in a vulnerable position where they are unsure of what to expect, what to do, how to act, etc. Will they be ignored or welcomed? Received or rejected? Humiliated or encouraged?
Each person who visits your church is potentially a lost soul looking for Jesus. Or they may be the person who is planning to kill themselves next week and this is their last ditch effort to try something to salvage what's left of their life. Or they may be sheep who have no flock. Or they may have been abused by their last church and afraid to be trapped again.
But, it shouldn't matter who they are, or what their story is, if they walk through those doors they should feel loved. Even if they are our enemy. We love like Christ loves.
"you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, [Jesus] has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him." (Col 1:21–22).
"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 Jn 4:10-11).
"the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' " (Ga 5:14).
If we're praying for God to save our town, to save our neighbours and to save our enemies, then we should expect them to come through those doors sooner or later. Are we ready to receive them? If the church is a hospital for dying sinners, throw the doors wide open so that all the sinners may come in for the cure!
That means we should expect the homeless and the homeowner, the old and young, gay and straight, dressed well or barely dressed, the anorexic and the obese, the alcoholic and the dealer, the arrogant and the ashamed, the thief and the goodie-goodie-two-shoes. All types and shapes and sizes are part of our town, and we want each and every one of them to meet Jesus.
Yes, there may be many things about their life that need to change if they are to become obedient to Jesus. But we don't clean up to come to Jesus, we come to Jesus and he cleans us up, heart first.
Yes, Jesus is not contained to our weekly gatherings, but we sure would expect to find him there! That's why people may come looking.
Things being done decently and in good order may mean some awkward conversations need to be had, yet I hope we can have a bunch of those awkward moments with a spirit of forgiveness and longsuffering, because it means that the gospel is being heard and the Holy Spirit is at work.
It may make church gatherings a little hard for you, as you deal with people who are very different from you, and in very early parts of their discipleship. They haven't got the years of spiritual maturity that you have.
If I could put it this way, seeking growth in God's church is a sacrificial endeavour. You get to put aside your comfort to welcome others to Jesus Christ. This was hard for the New Testament church, and it will be hard for us, but our comfort is such a small thing to sacrifice for the sake of building in Christ's church!
We may lose time chatting to our mates while we make a visitor feel welcome. We stand to loose the cosy feel of small churches, such as the ability to know every person at church. We'll have to explain to our kids why so-and-so looks the way they do. Yet, for the joy of seeing salvation come to local lives, it is surely worth it!
Welcome the stranger. Embrace the discomfort. Show them Christ.
"Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbour." (1 Co 10:24).
"Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Heb 13:1–2).
"Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." 1 Pe 4:8–9.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’" (Mt 25:34–40).
Gospel Discomfort
Let me tell you now: asking God to grow His church is a danger to your comfort.
We grow accustomed to the way things are. We build our friendships with people we like. We get into the groove; the way things are around here. We see familiar faces and appreciate familiar forms.
But, Gospel growth threatens all of that.
That means you're left with a choice, you can either have a) Jesus' church grow, or b) a church suit your comfort.
Yes I know, I normally warm you up before I get blunt like that, but there's no beating around the bush with this!
We can't serve ourselves and serve Jesus.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying church, and in fact it should be that way! It is a refuge from the world with your brothers and sisters under Christ. Joy should abound!
Yet what I'm speaking to here, is the way we can start to prefer the atmosphere and people in our local church to such an extent that we are, intentionally or otherwise, cold toward those who would threaten this peace and familiarity.
Many times I have heard stories about people who visited a church looking for Christian fellowship, only to be ignored or held at arms length. It has even been my own experience on occasion. Would you be pleased to find out that was the way people talk about your local body?
We may protest with comments about how good the community/teaching/programmes/morning tea/etc. are, but if the seeker is brushed off at first attempt, it is no wonder they will not stick around to find the value beneath the exterior.
Each person who comes through our door is putting up an emotional investment deposit. Kinda like a down payment on a home. They front up a smaller amount in the hopes they will get the whole package. But, there is a risk that their emotional deposit will be lost and they will walk away empty handed.
It is only the seasoned Christian who is quite comfortable to turn up to an unknown church with relatively little concern. For most people it is a big deal, especially if you're not sure if you actually believe in Jesus or if you've never been to church before. These people are putting themselves in a vulnerable position where they are unsure of what to expect, what to do, how to act, etc. Will they be ignored or welcomed? Received or rejected? Humiliated or encouraged?
Each person who visits your church is potentially a lost soul looking for Jesus. Or they may be the person who is planning to kill themselves next week and this is their last ditch effort to try something to salvage what's left of their life. Or they may be sheep who have no flock. Or they may have been abused by their last church and afraid to be trapped again.
But, it shouldn't matter who they are, or what their story is, if they walk through those doors they should feel loved. Even if they are our enemy. We love like Christ loves.
"you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, [Jesus] has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him." (Col 1:21–22).
"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 Jn 4:10-11).
"the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' " (Ga 5:14).
If we're praying for God to save our town, to save our neighbours and to save our enemies, then we should expect them to come through those doors sooner or later. Are we ready to receive them? If the church is a hospital for dying sinners, throw the doors wide open so that all the sinners may come in for the cure!
That means we should expect the homeless and the homeowner, the old and young, gay and straight, dressed well or barely dressed, the anorexic and the obese, the alcoholic and the dealer, the arrogant and the ashamed, the thief and the goodie-goodie-two-shoes. All types and shapes and sizes are part of our town, and we want each and every one of them to meet Jesus.
Yes, there may be many things about their life that need to change if they are to become obedient to Jesus. But we don't clean up to come to Jesus, we come to Jesus and he cleans us up, heart first.
Yes, Jesus is not contained to our weekly gatherings, but we sure would expect to find him there! That's why people may come looking.
Things being done decently and in good order may mean some awkward conversations need to be had, yet I hope we can have a bunch of those awkward moments with a spirit of forgiveness and longsuffering, because it means that the gospel is being heard and the Holy Spirit is at work.
It may make church gatherings a little hard for you, as you deal with people who are very different from you, and in very early parts of their discipleship. They haven't got the years of spiritual maturity that you have.
If I could put it this way, seeking growth in God's church is a sacrificial endeavour. You get to put aside your comfort to welcome others to Jesus Christ. This was hard for the New Testament church, and it will be hard for us, but our comfort is such a small thing to sacrifice for the sake of building in Christ's church!
We may lose time chatting to our mates while we make a visitor feel welcome. We stand to loose the cosy feel of small churches, such as the ability to know every person at church. We'll have to explain to our kids why so-and-so looks the way they do. Yet, for the joy of seeing salvation come to local lives, it is surely worth it!
Welcome the stranger. Embrace the discomfort. Show them Christ.
"Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbour." (1 Co 10:24).
"Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Heb 13:1–2).
"Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." 1 Pe 4:8–9.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’" (Mt 25:34–40).
Samuel Lindsay