Have you noticed lately that everyone is using the phrase "all are welcome" as a part of their Christian witness? But do they really meant it? One church in my hometown attached this phrase to a small yard sign next to their invitation for Christmas Eve Worship. However, I know for a fact that while everyone will be welcomed on Christmas Eve, a gay or lesbian couple would not be received so warmly if they continued to worship there after the holiday season was over.
Far too many churches have adopted this saying without really thinking about the implications of what it means. To extend a radical, hospitable welcome is not an easy thing. Jesus was criticized for it several times in the scriptures. He was called a drunkard and a friend of sinners [Mt 11:19, Lk 7:34]. The church-going folk of his day looked down on him because of the company he kept. But this did not deter Jesus from teaching about God's gracious invitation for everyone to come and dine [Lk 14:21-24].
My church is in the final steps of the Reconciling in Christ process through which we aim to define our congregation as a church where all are truly welcome. During this process, we've come to the conclusion that the phrase "All Are Welcome" has lost its power and doesn't have the same meaning it once did. We are writing a "Welcome Statement" that clearly defines our mission as a congregation and names names in the list of who is truly welcome at Abiding Savior. We're also working with a graphic designer to help us convey this radical welcome with a new church logo. I'll unveil it to you once it's adopted by the congregation.
The reason why I bring this up is that I believe the phrase "All Are Welcome" is dead. It has lost its meaning because it has been relegated to an overused catch phrase. The challenge is for progressive congregations to talk about what it truly means to live out this phrase. Then, when we're ready to embrace the meaning of these words, we need to tell our story to the community at large with clarity and power.
The world is waiting to find churches where "all means all." Do we have the courage and conviction to embody this phrase in the life and ministry of our churches? I hope so.
1 comments:
Thank you for this. I've been reading about RIC congregations and wanting so much to be a part of one. I'm a Lutheran seeking a church home that truly understands hospitality. In our rural area, it's difficult to find any church hat fits that bill. My husband and I talk often of uprooting to an area of the country that has an RIC church but that is certainly complicated. It's not what we really want for our family. Thank you to you and your congregation for your courage. You are an inspiration.
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