Everyone Welcome

"Everyone Welcome..."  This may be the biggest lie ever told in churches.  Yes I know that's a blunt statement - not much tact and kindness in those words.  But I believe it's true.  So, swallow hard and think about it.  Is your church ready to welcome everyone?  I doubt it.

I know we mean well.  I know our motives are right.  We really want everyone to come...until they come.  "Everyone" means everybody.  Everybody with all their problems, addictions, issues, struggles, and beliefs.  "Everyone" means every color of skin, every type of background, every kind of person you can imagine.  Most churches aren't ready for that.

We aren't ready because we're too perfect.  Well, at least we appear that way to "everyone."  What if we became honest about who we are behind the walls of our perfect churches?  We'd realize we are only what we are by the grace of God.  And it's a miracle we aren't divorced, addicted, broke, homeless, unloved, unwanted, and unnecessary.

"Everyone" could be your son or daughter...mom or dad...  "Everyone" could one day refer to you.

I preached about the Samaritan woman this past week.  I have preached that story from John 4 so many times...but each time, it seems, God shows me something new.  We've all heard of the Good Samaritan...well this story could well be called the Bad Samaritan.  She was a sinner no doubt.  She was a Samaritan for sure - an outcast, ridiculed and rejected.  But what I see anew is that she was searching.  Searching, not for another husband, but for peace, for answers, for hope, for a Savior.

"Everyone Welcome" includes people like this woman in John chapter 4.  People with messed up lives.  People, so far from perfect it's not even funny.  Imagine that - the next time someone visits your church, that doesn't quite measure up.  They may be searching for hope.  Searching for answers and love and peace and all that can be found in Jesus.

Jesus didn't condone her sin - but neither did he condemn her sin.  He had a way of causing people to confess their sin.  He said to this woman who had been married five times and was now with another man... "Go get your husband."  He didn't make that request to embarrass or humiliate her.  He did it so she would see her sin.  And she did.  Not many verses later she's running through the streets telling people to come see a man who "could be the Messiah."  And, later we read, "Many Samaritans believed on Him because of the testimony of the woman..."

Wow.  She is one of the "everyone welcome" that we're probably not ready for.  But if we will receive her, love her, and point her to Jesus we would realize in God's church, "everyone" really is welcome.

Sin is sin.  Grace is grace.  God's grace is sufficient for your sin.  "Everyone welcome!"  MM