Pastor, I Have a Question June 2012

QUESTION: The motto on the cover of the Lutheran Sentinel is “Engage others with Jesus.” My congregation seems so unfriendly. Are Lutherans generally unfriendly? If so, doesn’t this interfere with engaging others with Jesus?
ANSWER: The Evangelical Lutheran Synod is indeed in the middle of an effort to encourage every believer to consider himself to be a missionary. We are encouraging every congregation to think of itself as being a home mission. Christian congregations that do not seem friendly certainly will make this effort more difficult.
This pastor does not think of himself as being particularly unfriendly, yet he is shy. This may well be the case of other Christians. Some things are more comfortable to us than other things. It is true in most organizations. This pastor tried to get to know people at the local American Legion and was ignored by everybody except the chairman of the group, whose welcome seemed perfunctory. Other legionnaires were very talkative to those they knew. They pretty much ignored the few of us who were newcomers. How many newcomers will return?
Most of us like the familiar. We like to sit in the same pew. We feel more comfortable with those we know. We have something in common with them to talk about. We have common interests. It is comfortable.
We may not feel comfortable with those we don’t know. Being friendly with strangers takes work. Deep in our hearts, we might wish we could be more outgoing, but it is a struggle. It takes effort.
It is something we can learn. Congregations work on overcoming these barriers. We train greeters to welcome everybody. We have fellowship activities so members know each other. We encourage friendliness. During fellowship meals at our congregation, we have tried to imagine what it would be like to be a first-time visitor. We walk through a visitor’s visit trying to empathize, trying to think of ways we can make them feel more comfortable. We discuss these things among ourselves.
Many Christians imagine that their faith in Jesus is a private matter between the individual Christian and God. These Christians tend to view their membership in the church as a matter of worshipping Jesus and little more. Such Christians may well quickly find their place in the pew and leave church just as quickly. They may not take the time for conversation and fellowship.
Education also will help here. The Bible is clear that Christians need each other. God’s church is a gathering of brothers and sisters. We are a family. We need each other. We need to interact with each other. And God encourages us to reach out to those who do not yet know Jesus. Gently, sermons will help every Christian understand his privileged position in the church. See I Corinthians 12:12-31.
Jesus welcomed those who came to Him. Sometimes, as with the Syrophoenician women (Matthew 15:21-28), His disciples were not so welcoming. Jesus set an example.  We sing in the hymn, “Jesus sinners doth receive.” We rejoice that He reconciled us to our God by removing our barrier of sin by taking it to His cross and paying our debt to God for us. We believe we are now His forgiven children. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are loved eternally by God for Jesus’ sake. We are no longer strangers and foreigners. We are His people.
We also know that Jesus came to rescue all sinners. Only those who exclude themselves by unbelief are outside His family. We have millions of brothers and sisters in the faith. There are also millions more Jesus wants for His kingdom.
It takes work. It won’t come easily. It takes practice and determination. It should begin with you and me. We can be the friendly folks in our congregation. And we can encourage others to join us.
Rev. Charles Keeler
Resurrection Lutheran Church
Winter Haven, FL
cjohnk@aol.com