A few days prior to the writing of this article, I spoke with a
retired
pastor and his wife who are in the process of finding a new church
home.
They have decided that to do so would be in the best interest of
themselves and of the congregation from which he recently retired.
In the course of the conversation, they shared their observations
regarding the friendliness of the congregations they visited, the
presence or absence of a clear expression of the Gospel by the
preacher,
the liturgical and Christo-centric nature of the worship at both
traditional and non- traditional services, etc.
The bottom line for this retired clergy couple is a deep concern with
what they observed and experienced:
Rare was the preacher who clearly enunciated the central
truth of
the Gospel, namely, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world
unto
Himself, not counting our trespasses against us.
Rare was the preacher who used or even read a text as the
basis for
the proclamation portion of the worship service.
Rare was the worship service which, at least for them,
accomplished
the significant purpose of providing the worshiper with an absolute
sense that he or she had come into the presence of Almighty God
during
the worship hour.
Based on my own personal experience as Terry and I visit
congregations
around the District, I perceive that many congregations in Texas, by
the
grace of God, do much better in these basic areas of congregational
life
than the disappointing observations listed above. Indeed, we have
experienced great warmth, spiritually solid and inspirational worship
services, and, whether or not yours truly is preaching, many clearly
Biblical, textual and Gospel-focused sermons.
At the same time, I fully realize that people in congregations do not
necessarily treat a district president the same way they might treat
a
total stranger. I also realize that pastors, perhaps understandably,
plan and prepare worship on special occasions more carefully than
might
be the case on other Sundays of the year.
What is the purpose of this article? I hope and pray that it will be
a
gentle reminder to you in the same way it has been for me that the
visitors whom our congregations regularly receive are people whom the
Lord has led to our front door. What they experience during a Sunday
morning visit to your congregation is a critical factor in whether or
not they return. We may have only one opportunity to share the
life-saving truth of the Gospel with those who come to our
congregations
as visitors and we have an on-going responsibility to do so every
time
we stand before God s assembled people.
In addition, it is intended to provide a word of encouragement and
appreciation to each of you for the faithful ministry to which you
have
been called and a reminder to you and to your people to see
yourselves
and themselves as others see you and them.
It is frequently a difficult challenge to motivate people to be
sensitive to the newcomer in their midst, especially when they may
not
have seen their congregational friends for several days or more. In
my
experience, people of a congregation usually emulate what they see
their
pastor demonstrate. And so it is that I offer these words of
encouragement and thanks for your sensitive modeling of genuine care
and
concern, for your Gospel-based preaching and for your leading of
Christ
centered worship for both the members and the visitors who come under
the umbrella of your pastoral ministry.
God s Blessings to you and to your people as you see yourselves as
others see you, especially through the eyes of the newcomers and
visitors who are in desperate need of human friendship and divine
acceptance.
Indeed, our gracious God has given us much to offer!
Rare was the congregation which demonstrated any awareness
of
newcomers in their midst. In all but one case, not a single person so
much as greeted them.