Having had the
privilege of visiting and serving in numerous churches over the past number of
years, I can say that the majority of Christ followers are attempting to be
“authentic.” Still, it is a systemic
problem in the church that those who are visiting are made to feel lonely in a
crowd. I have intentionally stood in the
entry area of churches, both large and small, which I have visited while having
a questioning look on my face only to be ignored by people who are hurriedly
moving about toward one place or another for who knows the reason.
During His
short ministry on earth, though Jesus was often in a crowd of people, He was
always looking for that one person who needed Him. As recorded in Luke 8:45, in the account of
the woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years, when she touched Jesus’
robe, He knew it immediately. He then
said, “Who touched me?”
I am afraid
that we are much like Peter who questioned Jesus’ insight … “it could be anyone
who touched you.” Peter was focused on
the forest instead of the trees. And
like him, we too have other lesser things on our minds … “gotta get to
_________ (you fill in the blank).” For
Jesus, was anything more important than stopping to meet the need of someone
along the way? No! As for that woman, she was healed
immediately.
Years ago, a
certain missionary was visiting our church.
Having been asked to speak to us, he told of a meeting in a small
mission church in the area he was serving.
The indigenous pastor of that little church was late, in fact very late
for the meeting. When he finally
arrived, two hours late, his reason was that he had met someone along the road
with whom he stopped to visit. This
missionary was impacted by the care that pastor had for others. I must ask
myself, what impact will I have on someone else who I encounter along my
way? Isn’t it time for me to show the
care of Jesus to others whom I don’t know that just might need a caring new
friend?
On those
occasional church visits previously mentioned, there were men and women at the
door who proudly wore “greeter” badges.
Their mantra always seemed to be, “Good morning; or, nice to see you;
or, welcome.” It seems that they were
really glad to be standing there because they almost always wore a smile. Still, unless I took the initiative and asked
a question, that greeting was all that I got.
When I go to
visit someone in their home, after ringing the bell, the door opens, I am
greeted with a smile and hand-shake, invited in, offered a chair, and, maybe a
glass of water. Why shouldn’t the church
be a similar inviting place? Why
shouldn’t we all be like Jesus who did more than just say “welcome?” He always was looking for an opportunity
and, in fact, we are told that, with a crowd all around, He looked up in a tree
and found a man named Zachaeus. That
encounter changed Zachaeus’ life. And, that’s
just what He wants to do through us … we are to look for opportunities that
just might change peoples’ lives.
My suggestion
is that my church, the people with
whom I’ve chosen to walk, would begin to slow down and, as it is sometimes
said, “stop and smell the roses!” A rose
is a beautiful yet fragile flower which when handled with care gives great
joy. So it is with people … people whom
we have yet to meet … people who may be in need and could use a little of Jesus
through you and me. How many people do
you and I see on any given Sunday morning who we don’t know? Stop … introduce yourself … make a new
friend. Just maybe you will be used to
change a life for Jesus’ sake. If anything,
this attitude, which was also in Jesus, will change your own life!
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