Welcoming Our Visitors As We Would Welcome Jesus March 17th, 2010
Jesus was born outside; he died outside; outside was where where he spent his days. He had ‘nowhere to lay his head’. Jesus is never found ‘inside’, where it is safe and comfortable. He moved among outsiders – those suffering from disfiguring diseases; the hated tax collectors; those whom the pious wrote off as ‘sinners’. All ‘the last, the least and the lost’. Jesus was one with all those outside the circles of power and influence, not least women and little children.
Many of us feel the need to be part of something greater than ourselves, part of a community that can nurture us, protect us and be there with us during times of need. For those visiting our churches for the first time, it is so important that we make them feel welcome, not to be received as ‘outsiders’ but as part of our Christian community, to receive them as though we were receiving Jesus Himself.
It is a sad truth that some churches neglect their visitors (the ‘outsider’) because members are often so busy talking to their friends after the service. Can you recall times where you have been made to feel like an ‘outsider’? At St Peter’s we try our best to ensure everyone is made to feel welcome, how would you rate us on a ‘good at hospitality’ scale (0 = poor; 10 = excellent).
One Response
Alan Says:
Jesus could easily relate to ‘outsiders’ as his teachings and actions were always bringing him into conflict with the ruling ‘establishment’ of the Jewish faith. He taught us the true meaning of bringing outsiders in from their isolation, today it is not only visitors to our building but the greater outside – homeless, addicts, mentally ill, refugees (legal and illegal), abused, hungry, thirsty, poverty, displaced persons, … the list is endless.
It is difficult at times not to be overcome by the sheer scale of the problems of the ‘outsiders’ but by making welcome those who come to us searching for that ‘something’ then we can grow both in numbers and in faith to increase our energies and abilities to reach out beyond our present limits until finally we encompass the world bringing everyone to the true God.
Until then we can make our visitors welcome and support the aid agencies at home and abroad.
I will now put my soapbox away, thank for reading my comments!