Ridgell's Originals

I am always excited about Easter Sunday.  It is a real chance to invite people to come hear the amazing story of Jesus.  They hear that God loved them so much that his Son came to earth to die for their sins.  They hear that after being killed, God raised him from the dead.  And most exciting of all, they will hear that they are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Jesus and live forever.

So this Sunday -- and every Sunday -- sinners are welcome.  I am very aware that if we mean this, some will come in the midst of their sin. They may show up drunk, or with their battered wife.  They may come with their girlfriend instead of their husband.  They may be greedy, hateful, and racist.  But they are welcome to come.

Some will not come back.  Jesus will not be the choice they make.  Some will choose Jesus and will become part of our church of followers living life together.  They will find out that some of us still struggle with some of these things.  We are not perfect, but forgiven.  By the grace of God, the example of Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit, and going through life together... we are being transformed more and more to be like Jesus.

We learn more what pleases God and what hurts God.  We confess our sins, we repent of our sins, we seek to be changed.  As we mature as Christians, the bleeding wounds of our sins turn into scars.  So even though we may have brothers and sisters who are adulterers, or racists, or neglectful of parents, or struggling with pornography... we are changing.  We are not called to stay the same.  The point is we are struggling with our sin and not accepting, excusing, or remaining in our sin.

So if you are a Christian struggling with your sin, you are welcome.

I do know that some of our group are not struggling.  They love their sin more than their Jesus.  They do not repent, they are not sorry, and they do not want to change.  We will confront them, challenge them, work in groups, and even bring their sin before the church.  All in an effort to call them back to Jesus and faithfulness.

But if you have no interest in living out your commitment to Jesus, you are not going to feel welcome at our church.  We will be talking about things that will not interest you. And if you show no repentance from continuing sin, you will asked to leave our fellowship.

I also am aware some Christians not only practice sin, but call on the church to embrace sinners who not only do want to change, they insist they do not have to sin.  They can have Jesus and their sin.

False teacher like this are not welcome at our church.

God help us if the sinner in our world is not welcome.  Forgive us when we do even make friends unless they believe in Jesus first.  I don't want to be that church.

And forgive us when we passively allow our family to live in sin as if that is normal for a Christ follower.  But also forgive us when we do not allow for grace, forgiveness, repentance, and change.  I don't want to be a church that is more like a civic/social club.  I do want to be a church that invites the struggling pilgrim to find healing and restoration.

Forgive us when we allow people to be taught that sin is acceptable to you -- and when we make our wants the standard instead of what pleases you.  And please forgive us for not being consistent.  We are sorry for condemning some sins so stridently while ignoring others.

So let's be a church that welcomes sinners.  But never let us be a church that is more comfortable in the world than in the presence of Jesus.