Open Doors

I'm preparing to teach a workshop tomorrow at our area (Free Methodist) GROW event. I'm talking about making sure we (and our churches) are truly places where people are welcome.

Jesus had an amazing way of welcoming people who were definitely outside the "religious" mold. Matthew represents "all that's wrong" in Jesus' time... Matthew is in league with the enemy (Rome), probably taking bribes, using the power of his position ("tax collector") to become wealthy, and is presumably far from God. The religious folk of the day look at Matthew with disdain. But here comes Jesus... inviting Matthew to become a follower, and (soon after) one of His top leaders.

And then there's the "sinful woman" who comes to Jesus, pours perfume on His feet, "washes" His feet with her tears and her hair. Can you picture this happening on a Sunday morning at your church? A scantily dressed woman comes forward and starts pouring perfume on your pastor's feet and wiping the feet with her hair? People would be - at best - VERY uncomfortable with the behavior of the loose woman. But Jesus? He commends her for her love.

I've been a follower of Jesus' for a long time... but it still amazes me that God-in-the-flesh would so surprise us in the way He loves us radically...