Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Locked Out of Church


It was Tuesday evening and my Life Group was deeply involved in our weekly meeting. Ironically we were discussing doing evangelism as a small group. During that conversation one of our group members, whom we assumed wasn’t coming, arrived late to the meeting. I won’t call her by name. Sally (oops) texted one of the members and said, “Hi y’all – church doors locked – can someone let me in?” That was her first of five texts to a group member who had shut off her phone. Finally she texted another group member, “HELP! OPEN THE DOOR!” What a great example of evangelism as we talked about evangelism.

There is nothing friendlier than a locked door, is there? What is a better way to make someone feel welcome at church, or anywhere, than by locking the door?

Every church I have ever been associated with has told me that they are friendly. In my denomination we like to talk about hospitality. For us that is about inviting everyone to participate in communion. Unfortunately sometimes we fail to be welcoming in the time and space between a guest’s arrival in the parking lot and being seating in the worship area. We expend much time, energy and words talking about welcoming people different than we and lose track of just being welcoming to everyone who shows up.

Many of us church folks fail to understand that visitors to a church worship service have decided whether they are coming back, or not, well before the sermon has started. And a big part of that decision is based on how they were welcomed (or not) upon their arrival. As much as it galls us preachers, the sermon is not on the top three list of why people come back to church after a primary visit. Unfortunately our (we think) fabulous preaching comes behind: a friendly and adequate welcome; a safe, clean and well-staffed nursery; and clean restrooms. Boy that can burst your “I am important” bubble.

Several years ago I was serving a church in a ministry to young adults and singles. I had gotten word of a Methodist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, that had a great singles ministry so I went there to visit on a Sunday morning. I remember getting out of my car, looking at the church, and thinking, where in the world to I start? Within seconds a very friendly person showed up in the parking lot and asked if I could use some help. They took the time to take me where I needed to be. Not only was the door unlocked, they were ready for visitors.  

I often enter into conversations with unchurched people who feel, in many ways, locked out of church. They feel they are different and thus unwelcome. They think they have to believe first before they can attend. That they need to make lifestyle changes before they would be welcomed. That there are “secret” things they must know and do before they can fit in. That if they come to worship they will stick out like a sore thumb, do something stupid, be singled out as an outsider or a sinner, used as a bad example, excluded from the insider, Christian part of the service. They fear being ignored and they fear being overwhelmed by aggressive, religious people. They thought of going to a worship service is very stressful to them. They feel locked out.

Church folks, it is time for us to unlock the church doors. Because the people out there who do not yet know and have not yet experienced God’s love and grace are trying to get inside the church to hear that message. “HELP! OPEN THE DOOR!”

Copyright © 2014, William T. McConnell, All Rights Reserved

Bill McConnell is Senior Minister at Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee and is a Church Transformation consultant and a Christian Leadership Coach. He is a frequent speaker at Church Transformation events. His latest book on church transformation is DEVELOPING A SIGNIFICANT CHURCH and is available at Westbow Press. 

He can be contacted @ bill45053@gmail.com. Connect with him on Facebook @ William T. McConnell or on Twitter @billmc45053 or visit his Amazon Author Page @ William T. McConnell

No comments: