Mo Seats 4 Yo Peeps. The American local church. Hmmmm. A visitors thoughts before deciding to attend the average American local Church. What do I wear? What should I say and not say? How about my skin color? Will they say I am going to hell because I struggle with the same-sex attraction? Will I be loved and accepted? I have a drug addiction, will they judge me? My marriage is on the rocks, will they help? Sad to say many of these types of thoughts, filter through the minds of most church visitors as they choose a church to attend. What is even worse is that a lot of these types of visitors will have their fears verified. They will NOT be accepted, they WILL be judged, and will ultimately be turned OFF to church and Christianity. According to Jesus, through His Word, this was not His idea of the church and it’s duties. Jesus (who is the chief cornerstone of the church) set the local church up as a salvation station, a spiritual hospital, a Christian growth center, a place of fellowship, somewhere to send out church planters, and a definite place the poor and needy should find food and rest. The idea that non-believers have these fears should make christians hang there heads in shame. Jesus accepted everyone and still does. Jesus scolded those who shut out people from following Him because of their traditions and hypocritical ways. In Matthew 23:12-15 Jesus said these words, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees! For ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men: For ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! For ye devour widow’s houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves!” These are some pretty tough words from Jesus! Needless to say Jesus takes accepting others really serious. Let me encourage you to break out of your mold and help someone just like Jesus did! Encourage, help, guide, lead, and strengthen someone this week. Mo Seats 4 Yo Peeps is exactly what this type of attitude is all about! Invite everyone you know and embrace the “come just as you are” attitude!
Lifting Jesus Higher,
Pastor James
Bethlehem Small Group
