Who should be welcome at church?

                                                                                                                     Vol. XIX, No. 1, January 2006

[Excerpted from The Matoaca Messenger, newsletter of Matoaca Baptist Church, Matoaca, VA.]

Observation will tell us that there are a number of church members who never want to see the “status quo” change. I have told you a number of times about the Senior lady who announced VERY firmly that she didn’t want any new members in her church because that would ruin the experience that she loved. As I attempted to lovingly point out to this lady, she had no choice – change is coming. People age and pass from the scene; God calls others to new places; her own health was liable to decrease. Her ONLY real option was to seek God’s will for His church.

I saw a sign on a building this morning that said “Members and their guests only”. It was a private club absolutely determined to keep the “wrong” people out. I am so glad that God’s church desires the “wrong” people (people like you and me). As Paul described himself ... “the chiefest of sinners”.