Remember when you were first introduced to the Church? Maybe you had accepted Christ recently, or maybe that came later. Either way, do you remember feeling a little out of place around “church folks”? Some people, especially those who’ve not been brought up around the church, can feel really uncomfortable when they’re new to the Church. Maybe they don’t know the songs, can’t find their place in the Bible, or even worse, sometimes they will transgress one or two of our sacredly held “norms”. I used to get really irritated when I would see young folks wearing hats in God’s house or smoking on the church steps. As the years have gone by though, I believe the Lord has tempered my narrow mindedness and replaced it with a heart more focused on ministering to these souls. A reverence and respect for the Lord is imperative, but sometimes I think we make some of the “church stuff” too hard on new folks. Let’s focus on loving them and bringing them into the fold first… the Holy Spirit will begin to sanctify them just like He is doing for us.
“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult of the Gentiles who are turning to God.” Acts 15:19
In Christ,
PastorJimKilby @Kilbin8er
Jim@JamesKilby.com