Let's take a look at James 2.
The command is straightforward "Don't show favouritism." In one sense we simply need to hear that again and again. In our frailty we forget it and drop back into showing favouritism easily.
The situation James describes is also clear. One rich and well dressed; one poor and shabby. Give the rich man a good seat but don't bother about the poor man stick him anywhere, even in the place of the slave.
Now let us examine our hearts here. A smartly dressed gentleman walks in: we greet them warmly and make sure they have everything they need. A gentleman of the road walks in: we ask him whether he's come to the right place; does he realise a service is going on? We wonder whether or not he can read so we are not sure whether or not to give him books. We do not offer our hands as his look dirty. When he stays and sits down we look, possibly nod, but do not introduce ourselves. We move along the pew for fear we might catch something.
Let us be honest with ourselves; this gets very close to the bone.
But it is easily done when the contrast may not be so stark. We more readily talk to a white newcomer than a black one; or perhaps vice versa. Then when we talk we hear how someone speaks; or we find out about their job. We make judgements about their educational background or their abilities or their looks. We decide they are too well educated for us, or not well educated and good-looking enough. We carry on the conversation for a bit but draw it to a close as rapidly as we feel able to decently. After the service we quickly turn to a neighbour behind or in front whom we know so that we do not have to talk to this person next to us.
This, my dear brothers and sisters is showing favouritism: as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ we are called not to show favouritism.
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But James actually takes the argument further. God's strategy in the world has been to deliberately choose those who are poor in this world for his family and his purposes. Now this is not just something James noted. Listen to Paul writing to the Corinthians; "Brothers think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
Or listen to our Lord Jesus, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." (Luke 4:18-19), or again, "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners." Jesus was very clear: he came for the have nots, the nobodies of this world. He came to say that it is not human achievement, physical being or ability which is important it is being made and loved by God, and recognising that. The values of the world have been turned upside down in the kingdom of God. God's church is meant to be a sign of this kingdom, our values are meant to be turned upside down. Welcome the friendless, the outcast, the unlovable, the unlikeable.
James warns us about selective holiness. I go to CF and church faithfully. I do not watch pornography. I do not speak foul words. I tithe regularly from my allowance. But I conveniently forget I am called not to gossip, lie, cheat or steal. Or even break school rules.
I am really friendly to many people in church anf CF, and outside of it. I conveniently forget that I never do more than passingly greet members from ethnic minorities, or children or those whom I regard as not really well enough educated for me to befriend.
We are all breakers of the royal law of love. We all need to repent.
Repentance, I remind you, is turning around and going the other way; it is not simply saying sorry. Repentance involves recognising the wrong, owning up to it and determining in the power of God's Spirit to live differently in the future.
At every level of our life together when we gather for worship like this Friday byFriday, we need to consider how well we are reflecting God's loving welcome of one another. We need to ask how well those who are "trying us out" find us. We need also to consider how good we are at long term welcoming. We might be very good in the early stages but be rather weaker at helping people find their way into real integration in the life of God's people here.
The role of Sidespeople(or ushers) is extremely important. Those involved in this ministry are in effect the first line of welcome. Currently this role is being fulfilled by a relatively small number of people. This should be expanded.
To fulfil the sidespeople role well, this needs to be done in good time so that once people actually arrive the emphasis is on the smile, the hello, the how are you. Each person, regardless of their age, their colour, their looks etc., should be welcomed as warmly as the next person. Where it would help then people need to be given information about toilets, etc. They also need to guided to seats; preferably where it will be possible to see well.
Yet, while the Sidespeople are the first line of welcome absolutely everybody is the second line of welcome. When someone comes and sits in the row alongside you, or in front of you, you have a responsibility to say good morning. To introduce yourself if the person is likely not to know you. Now this needs to be done sensitively; some like to pray quietly the moment they sit down; so wait until they have prayed. Others do not pray; speak to them straight away. The longer we leave it the harder it becomes to talk at all.
Now some of us are more outgoing than others so will find this easier. But let us not use our shyness as an excuse let us work to overcome it.
Quite often we ask people to greet one another at the outset of the service. It is valuable for everyone to join in. Make a point of greeting those you do not know without ignoring those you do know.
We are all creatures of habit. In our own homes we tend to have our favourite chair. When we come to church we all tend to have a preference: some prefer to sit to the side; others in the middle. Some prefer to be near the back, others further forward. Indeed we all tend to gravitate to the same place each week. Now this is partly about feeling secure, partly about personal space, partly pure habit. However we must all acknowledge that none of us has their own seat. If someone is there before us then we should not ask them to move we just happily go and sit somewhere else.
Unfortunately these habits can create wrong impressions, even wrong relationships. If we all stick to similar habits then we all tend to end up sitting near the same people week in and week out. This makes it difficult for us to develop friendships with a wider range of church members. It creates the impression of closed groups, cliques, into which it is impossible to break. So I would suggest that it is actually good discipline to change where you sit from time to time. Go out of your way to sit in a different part of the building, and talk to new people around you.
Timing. It is quite understandable that those who come earliest are more likely to sit in the middle than at the sides, though not guaranteed. Inevitably therefore if you arrive close to the start of the service, or even after it has started, that the middle is basically full. There is no point complaining that the middle is always full if you are persistently late in arriving. I have problems with the analogy of going to visit the Queen with coming to worship the King of Kings, He is far more approachable than she is; He is not surrounded by courtiers seeking to protect her from only those whom it has been agreed she should meet. God welcomes all openly.
However there is some mileage in the analogy that you would never dream of being late for the Queen so why be late for worshipping the King of Kings. We fail to serve one another well by being late for worship. With service starting at 12.45 or latest 1 p.m., our aim really ought to be to be in the building by 12.55 at the latest ready to enter into it all fully.
Welcoming does not end after the opening minutes. It continues into what happens at the end of services. Do we talk with those around us at that point? Do we make a point of talking with someone new or whom we have never talked to before? Do we introduce them to others?
We have to work at reflecting God's loving welcome at every level of church life. How we organise and run our small group life is critical as this is where real friendships and deeper fellowship can be properly built.
But we also have to attend to how welcoming we are when we gather together for worship around the Word of the Lord and around the Table of the Lord.
I want to challenge you with one thing as I end:
Try sitting somewhere else in the Physics Lab next week close to people whom you have not sat near before. And talk to them.
God has an ever open heart towards us welcoming us home. This meal which we share tells us that again and again. God calls us to reflect His welcome towards one another. He calls us to reflect His welcome for the poor, the oppressed, the unloved and unwanted ones. May He help us to be a CF which reflects His loving welcome to all.
*Taken from the web, meant for churches. Some examples and notes have been editted to suit CF better more than church, but it suits both just as well anyway. =) It's very long-winded, I know. But it's very important to read it all! It really goes into your heart. =)
