Reach Out To Strangers
"And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?" -- Matthew 5:47
Churches can be the most unfriendly places in the world. Yeah. I bet that got your back up a little. Full of denial, aren't you? Then you've probably never visited a church where you knew no one.
Don't get me wrong. Some churches are filled with friendly and welcoming people. The church I attend now is one of those. I still remember Pastor Susannah greeting me before services on my first visit. Her smile helped calm my nervousness at being in a new church. Others said hello too. It made a difference. I still attend most Sundays.
Do you greet people who attend your church? I'm not talking about the stand and say hello to your neighbor thing many churches do. That doesn't count. Really. It doesn't. Anybody can shake hands, nod their head and say hello. It isn't conversation. It isn't connecting. It isn't making people feel welcome. It's going through the motions. Nice motions, I might add. But just motions.
We all tend to stay in our little groups, getting caught up and visting. It takes effort to break away and actually have a conversation with someone we don't know. We want someone else to do it. Don't we have a committee for that sort of thing? Sure, we do. But that doesn't excuse us from also making people feel welcome.
Jesus welcomed everyone. He knew each person by name. How can we do any less?
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