What is this church like?
“What is this church like?” asked the little old couple as they shuffled in the doors of church.
A tall, slim church greeter with silver hair smiled and asked, “What was your last church like?”
The man’s head bowed a bit and the woman glanced at him with a pain-tinted-smile,
“We loved our church. What a wonderful group of people. Nobody’s perfect but they were close. Sure, we had our scrapes over the forty years, but we love them like family. It ripped our hearts out to move near our children when our health took a turn.”
The church greeter looked with compassion, “I think you’ll find this church a lot like the one you left. We’ll get through this together. Come on in.”
Next came a disheveled woman who seemed on edge. She fidgeted with her things,“What’s this church like?”
“Have you been to church before?” asked the kind greeter.
“I grew up in a country church. It was a little backward, but the people loved me. When I moved to the city I left that church and my faith behind. Now my life’s a dumpster fire… guess I was a little backward. I loved those people, and they loved me.”
She sighed.
“I think you’ll find this church a lot like the one you left. We’ll get through this together. Come on in.” the greeter said warmly.
Through the door next came a young couple with a baby.
“What’s this church like?” asked the husband.
“What are you looking for in a church?” asked the wise greeter.
“We’re looking for a change!” Said the wife.
“We thought our last church was right but, in time, we realized they didn’t care about people. We weren’t growing much.” the husband added. “We didn’t find what we hoped and are looking for a better place to raise our family.”
The greeters smile remained but his voice was saddened, “I’m sorry about what you’ve been through. I think you’ll find this church a lot like the one you left.”
The couple was surprised by his honesty…. Only time will tell if they hear his wisdom.
“19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”
1 John 4:19–21