Is Jesus Welcome In Your Church

Would Jesus Be Welcome In Your Church

Would Jesus be welcome in your church? In most cases, probably not; yet, there are still some

churches that accept “those kind of people”. Which one is your church?

I know a guy living in Prescott Valley, Arizona. About as good a Christian as you’ll find and probably a better one that most. He has dedicated his life to Christ. His final goal is to work fulltime in missionary work. If he knows someone is hungry, he’ll do his best to feed them. If he knows someone is hurt, he’ll comfort them. If he knows someone is in trouble, he’ll help them. Not once have I seen him turn his back on anyone, he couldn’t. However, he is not the kind most people want coming to their church. He belongs to a motorcycle gang, but this gang is called Gospel Riders. He has a beard, wears bike colors, often old clothes, and even a head band. Several churches in the Prescott Valley area asked him to leave, saying that “his kind was not welcome”. The funny thing, those people that don’t want him, all too often turn their back on the poor and afflicted. They don’t want to be around them, they don’t want to reach out and help them. So, who is doing God’s work?

It’s funny, the Bible is full of “those kind of people”, even Jesus was “that kind of person”. Moses killed someone, he was tongue tied, couldn’t speak well; yet, God chose him to lead God’s people out of slavery. Paul was a killer, killing Christians; however, one day, he was converted and was a preacher who gave the “good news” to many. Jesus himself did not wear find clothes. He was not dressed like a priest of the temple. He had no money and tried to give away his only coat. He was probably often covered with sand, unshaven, and no haircut. So, would Jesus be welcome in you’re church?

God has commanded us to go about with His work. Reach out to the poor and afflicted in body and spirit. He has ask us to help the poor recover, learn the peace that comes with knowing God. One church and one church only accepted the biker above in their church. One church out of many and this church is being blessed beyond imagination. This Church is the Prescott Valley United Methodist Church in which I am happy to say, I’m a member.

I’ve seen people all too often; turn their back on others. When someone who is having problems asks for help, I’ve seen others simply say “we can’t” or “we don’t have the money”, without even listening to the problem. Often we can help, if nothing more, simply by listening. We may not have the money to help, but we might help find the money. We may not have the food to spare, but we can help them find the food. The real problem is when someone simply says “I can’t help”, they turn their back and walk off. What they should be saying is “let me see how I can help”. Maybe it’s only listening, maybe it’s only comforting, maybe it’s a few phone calls. But, at least, it shows the person that we do care and we will try. The biker above has never told anyone “I can’t”. He only says “I’ll try”. So who is doing God’s work?

Who is on the other end of the phone when you answer the phone and someone is asking for help? Who is the beggar on the street? Who sent the person to our church. Perhaps it’s God finding out if He’d be welcome in that church.

Joe Hillyer

Graduate East Texas Baptist University

Prescott Valley, United Methodist