How do you invite people to church? A friend of mine invites people to church with one condition: “If you’re perfect, this isn’t the place for you, because we are a bunch of messed up people.”
Most people really appreciate that honesty. We Christians, if we aren’t careful about it, can give off an air of self-righteousness. But the church was never meant to be a sanctuary for the self-righteous. The church is a hospital for sinners, a refuge for the broken, and a shelter for the oppressed and outcast.
Churches are not perfect. In fact, until Christ comes to take his bride at the New Creation, there is no hope for a perfect church.
But, if a church is fulfilling her mission, a church will be a perfect place for imperfect people.
I’m pretty sure that statement isn’t original to me, but I don’t remember ever reading it. It came to me in the middle of a sermon a few weeks ago and it really captures exactly what we as the church are called to be. A safe harbor in the storms.
Jesus found the hurting, the outcast, and the sick and he brought them into his family. In fact, when he saw the hurting and the weighted down, he urged them,
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest
Matthew 11:28
Jesus didn’t cry out to all who are wealthy and healthy. He didn’t reach out to the powerful and political. No, Jesus spoke to those who “labor and are heavy laden.” The NIV says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Is your church the sort of place where people are allowed and even encouraged to limp in, weighed down by the cares and worries of life so that they may find rest? Is your church the kind of place where the laborer and the weary are welcomed with open arms?
Local churches are missional outposts. Lighthouses in a dark world proclaiming hope and healing. Does your community view you and your church this way? If not, what can you do to change?
When a church is a comfortable place for self-righteous people, it will offer little hope to the hopeless and it is in danger of being no church at all.
But, a church that is perfect for imperfect people offers hope and healing. Ministering to the down and out is not easy, but it is godly and it is necessary.
How do you invite people to church? Try being honest. Tell the truth. Churches are filled with imperfect people trying to live into God’s love and grace and to proclaim it to a lost and dying world. Churches are filled with people who have been delivered from sin, addictions, pain, and hopelessness. In other words, healthy churches are filled with ordinary people.
The next time you invite someone to church, you might just discover that they aren’t interested in a perfect church for perfect people, but they can relate to a mission outpost helping to heal broken people with the hope of Jesus. Invite them to the perfect place for imperfect people.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
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