July 10. 2026

Welcome Others

 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

-- Matthew 28:19-20

I don't think she meant her words to come out as they did. Maybe it was a freudian slip. Whatever her intentions, it revealed a great deal about a certain segment of the church.

Really, it revealed a great deal about all of us. We welcome the words of Jesus -- until He calls us to do something we'd really rather not do.

As we talked that night about the need for church growth, she said she wanted the church membership to remain the same but also that the church should welcome new people who wanted to attend. Umm. Keep the old-timers in charge but let everyone else show up to attend, work, tithe.

That's really not how it works. Think about Paul's journey. He went out and preached, then moved on, trusting that the Holy Spirit would guide those he had taught. Just as Jesus trusted all of us to spread the good news of salvation through Him.

It wasn't a suggestion. It was a command. Jesus told us what to do and, yet, we're reluctant. Why? Because we want things to stay the same.

Life never stays the same. Not ever. Sometimes change brings good things. Sometimes change brings hard days. We carry both with the grace and strength of our community, our family, our church.

When we gather unto ourselves, our own little group, our own little world, we have failed to follow Jesus. When we shut people out by not fully including them, we have failed to follow Jesus. When we refuse to go out into the world and invite people into our lives, we fail to follow Jesus.

I choose to believe her heart didn't mean what her words said. I choose to see the best in her and others who gather close into their circle rather than reach out to others who feel like outcasts from a faith they aren't sure about anymore.

I will continue to do my part. I'll welcome the stranger, the one who is different, the person who is sick or hurting. I want my church to grow in ways that only Christ can direct, intentionally following His lead.