I spoke with a member of another church the other day. As we got into deep conversation about life, people and our obligation to Christ as Christians. I shared with him a little bit about myself, my past and my ongoing struggles as a christian in leadership at Celebrate Recovery (a Christ centered recovery program). The more our conversation went on the quieter I became. I thought I was going to have to bite my tongue off to keep from saying the wrong thing. He informed me that there church had no place for people with issues and struggles like I was talking about. They were just to small and lacked the knowledge and capability to handle hurting people. At the moment I was at a loss for words. I couldn’t even begin to understand where this guy was coming from. I must admit I began to stray from the conversation and try to end it as soon as possible to keep from getting frustrated. I honestly feel like it would have been inappropriate to tell him exactly how i felt at the time. I did make it aware to him that I totally disagree. But, I would love to share with you how I really feel about this. Whether I’m wrong or right this is how I feel.

First of all I  dont believe a church should ever begin to be territorial. The doors should always be open to any and everyone seeking Christ. There should never be any walls, gates,doors,or fences keeping the lost from seeing the light and finding the freedom christ has for every person in this world. In Matthew 9:12 and 13 Jesus says “it is not the healthy who need a doctor,but sick. but go and learn what this means:’ I desire mercy,not sacrifice for i have come not to call the righteous, but sinners.” I believe Jesus saw that Matthew was cheating the people and said this to correct his way of thinking. To show him  his purpose here was to save everyone not just chosen people. Also I believe anyone who thinks he is righteous needs to take a closer look at their selves and their salvation. Not to be judgemental but, I know that the first step to following Christ is admitting we are powerless on our own. That we need him and we dont know the answers, the answers lie in him. Also in perhaps one of the most known bible verses to the world John 3:16 it says “for god so loved the world that he gave his only so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life. It doesnt say he died to save only a select few. It says whoever, and were I come from whoever means anybody and everybody. And in Matthew 5:46 Jesus says, if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? are not even the tax collectors doing that? If I stood at my church and told people they were not welcome. I would be performing probably the most unloving act man could ever do. I tell you what, and I know I’m not alone in this. If I had to I would set up chairs in the parking lot. Fill up  every room in the church with the lost. I would pull speaker wire down the highways in our community and hook up speakers all over the county if thats what it took for me to reach the lost with that one message prepared to reach the hurting people.

You see if we continue to sit up on the hill and wait for the lost to come to us. We are not doing what God has called each and every one of us to do. I assure you if you reach out to the lost, there will be no fear of not having the knowledge and capability we need to reach the lost. God will provide that for us. If we didnt need to reach out for them and find them,If they knew were to go and what it was there hearts and souls were longing for. Then they wouldnt be called lost. Lets begin to share the freedom God has given us. Lets step out of our comfort zone and be the disiples God called us to be.