Welcoming All God’s People
That is our theme.
We have printed it on posters and banners.
It is on the website and you will hear those words spoken at times.
We haven’t talked about what it means for a while.
It could mean, we are a friendly church and smile a lot.
It could mean, I suppose, we are pretty good at hospitality.
It could mean, that, on occasion, when someone shows up that is dressed differently than most of the rest of us, we make room for them.
Surely, it means all these things.
Welcoming all God’s people, is not just a fine theme for a church.
These words keep before us the knowledge that we are not all the same, have not all had the same experiences, do not all come from similar backgrounds.
That is, frankly, tough to swallow.
It is difficult for me.
I feel right at home among people who: Live within the moral and legal boundaries of the church and community. Value learning and education. Are mentally and emotionally balanced. People who believe, pretty much like I do. Work hard and find a way.
Take one look, however, at the people around Jesus, and we discover that this is what he did. He “Welcomed all God’s people.”
There were people who were beggars, the sick, the demon possessed, the soldier’s servant, the outcast woman, people who did not understand, children, timid and misguided disciples, those who doubted, people who just wanted one more miracle and more.
Welcoming all God’s people is not easy and we won’t always do it well.
I pray God will forgive me when someone shows up and I become impatient and agitated that they aren’t like me.
Moving to the deeper places,
Jeff