So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (AC 2.41).
“There is no way of belonging to Jesus Christ except by belonging gladly and irrevocably to the glorious ragbag of saints and fat-heads who make up the one, holy and universal church!” – Bishop Geoffrey Paul
If our churches are to grow, we’ll be adding a lot of people not like us. Are you ready? What if a guy walks into your meeting with bright orange hair and wearing a skirt? It happened in our church a few years ago. People made a beeline to him and welcomed him warmly.
A few days later I saw him in a local restaurant. Only this day his hair was brown and he was wearing jeans. He looked like any other college student. I recognized him and said “hi” to him. He commented on how friendly everyone was, then said, “I dressed that way just to see what everyone would do.” He didn’t join the church, but I was glad to see our church would welcome anyone.
Are you ready?
photo by louisbickett
I think this is always something the church will struggle with. We get "comfortable" in our christianity. Eventually we want everything to stay lukewarm and really dislike any discomfort. We forget the grace that found us in the septic tank of sin. It's very easy to do.
I'll never forget the time a lady came to our church for financial assistance. It was late Sunday afternoon. She appeared older than she was: stringy, oily gray hair streaked with dimestore coloring. She wore a tee-shirt torn in several spots and a jean skirt that would have been more appropriate for a middle-schooler. Simple flip flops were on her feet. And she smelled. She lived in a car in the front lawn of a home that was already over-crowded.
We always share the gospel with those who seek financial assistance from us. She said she was a Christian and we spoke of what God may be doing in her life. This conversation lasted through the evening service. I stood with her at the foot of the steps from which our congregants would leave the sanctuary. As they began to file out, she nervously and self-consciously pulled at her shirt. We spoke for a couple minutes. And then she had to leave. I never saw her again.
Until I was reading the obituaries later that year. She had died in her car in the colder weather. That obit haunted me for sometime – and your article reminded me of it again.
I'm not sure that she would have attended our church, got involved and become a super-saint if someone had spoken to her and loved her that night. I don't know why God allows what He does. I do know that this single event changed the way I looked at people.
and yet, it had faded from memory until now. I guess we will always need these types of reminders.
Mark,
What a powerful story. Wow. Thank you for sharing it. It really stirs me.
A friend used to say, "We need to remember that everyone is either on their way to heaven or on their way to hell; either way, our heart should be tender towards them." My prayer is to keep this idea in front of me so I don't become distracted by the "costume" but see people as those created in His image for His glory. Thanks for the reminder to evaluate how I receive new people at our church.
Hi Elaine,
What a great saying – I'm saving it for future reference. How we need to see people as "those created in His image for his glory." Thanks for commenting.
I find it very interesting in todays church just how the opposite this has become. That once someone dyes their hair a "un-natural" color we automatically up a stamp on them and judge them with out even knowing them. The last time I checked that is God's job to judge people and their hearts. So Steven- yes right on brother, right on.
You're so right, Adam – how often we judge by externals. I hope the Lord brings all kinds of "un-natural" looking people to our church!
"A few days later I saw him in a local restaurant. Only this day his hair was brown and he was wearing jeans. He looked like any other college student."
It's probably uncharitable but would the Church people have made him as welcome if he had gone dressed as you saw him later in the restaurant? Unless the congregation is small enough so that strangers stand out it's seldom the ordinary looking person who is greeted so warmly – it's the part of the "ragbag" we are all members of and who look as if they don't belong to whom we usually pay most attention. If, indeed the Church people respond positively at all.
Then, the second question to be borne in mind is "would he have been as welcome if he had shown up a second time or was the welcome because of novelty." Evangelism is about making life-saving relationships. About being the kind of Christian who (like the paraplegic's friends in Capernaum) care enough that we go to huge lengths to make sure our friends get to see Jesus (even to tearing the roof apart!!). It's not a once-a-Sunday relationship; as I'm sure you know since you made a point of talking to the young man.
Hi Kaitiaki,
Very insightful comments! Actually our church is very welcoming and warm to all newcomers, both unusual and "normal" ones, and not just the first time they visit. This is only the grace of God upon our church, and we certainly have a long way to go in evangelism and reaching out to others. I really like your comment about caring enough to go to huge lengths to make sure our friends get to see Jesus – excellent! I need to do this and our church can certainly keep growing in this. Thanks for your comments.
Hey Mark,
I grew up in a Methodist church, it was in a pretty bad part of the city. We started to get some pretty interesting people darkening our door, one in particualr that I remeber was a homeless guy who reeked of urine and alcohol. I remeber very vividly how most of the older, more seasoned members of the church shunned this man and complained of the stench and wondered of he would stain the carpet or the pew that he sat in. He only came a few Sundays and I never saw him again. I remember thinking at a young age that this isn't how the church should be, we will attract people who aren't like us and some who may make us uncomfortable. Jesus calls us to not be comfortable but to be His hands and His feet to a dying world. I struggle still with that but I know that it's what the Lord calls us to and He will enable us to love the ones who are difficult to love.
Great post as always! I remember when I was a kid…just yesterday
Blessings
Ron Reffett
Hey Ron,
Wow, that's a moving and challenging story about the homeless guy. I know that I could only reach out to a guy like that by the grace of Christ. Thanks – I needed to hear that.
Mark, I am so grateful that my church reached out to me when I came 6 years ago. I was like the guy with the orange hair, coming intentionally “out of place” to see what response I would get.
They looked past the skin tight shirts and short-short skirts, black hair and spiky heels to the hurting girl inside who was just longing to hear the gospel (though I didn’t see that at the time).
I thought they would reject me, as I had seen other churches do, because of my appearance, attitude and coldness to their message. I was shocked when they didn’t. That experience (which lasted for nearly 2 years!) really showed me the kindness of God, which in turn led me to repentance. I praise God for this. Thanks for this post… and for reminding me of God’s goodness to me!
What are some good reponses to so called "unusual" people *after* they come to Christ? How much room is there for "individuality" in the clothing that Christians wear? Obscene or revealing stuff should be discarded of course.
I can see potentially a problem in which Christians might say "ok, you were unsaved, so we welcomed you and excused the orange hair back then. But your a Christian now, so you need to look like us" . This could quickly spiral downwards as well, into a "you can't honor God without a tie on" mentality.
Clean clothes, and modesty is of course encouraged. We don't want guys stumbling because an outfit is too revealing. But I know churches that will not allow you to come in unless you have a suit/tie or head-covering on. Some even go as far as to make you sit at the back until you "prove" you are really saved. I think that sort of discretion is wise when selecting elders and other leaders in the church, but for someone just coming in?
Hey Ben, Very thoughtful response. You hit a lot of points.
God cares primarily about the heart, not our outward adornment. God doesn't care if we wear a tie or jeans. I'm really glad that every Sunday we have people who wear jeans and people who dress up more. What is important is the gospel. Clothing doesn't make us acceptable to God, the blood of Jesus and his righteousness does. If the Lord accepts us on the basis of the blood and merits of Christ, we should too. The more different kinds of people, dress and looks we have, the more likely we are to attract a wide variety of people to hear the gospel. As long as we don't sin, we want to be all things to all people to win as many as we can. If I can win more people wearing jeans, I will.
We certainly want to encourage modesty. But if it were someone's first Sunday and they were dressed somewhat immodestly, I would care more that they hear the gospel and experience the acceptance and love of the Lord through us. We could address the modesty issue at a later date. People need to be taught to consider others, not to tempt anyone, etc. But they need the gospel first and foremost.
Hope these comments are helpful. Thanks again for commenting!