Where Christians fear to tread: The Welcome – 17 June 2010

Romans 9:11-21

“All Welcome” is a common notice put outside a church. But for various reasons it has little effect on passers-by!  Paul is very aware of this effect as he recounts in this chapter the many ways that God has called to himself. It is not as if they didn’t understand, Paul notes wryly, quoting Leaders and Prophets who answered exactly that point (v19).

Paul bemoans ’s lack of response, as do we as Christians bemoan the lack of response of those around us. Then Paul says these words

14 But how can they call to him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed? 15 And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out?

I wonder if it strikes you as it did me, that the tone of these verses is not the same as that of “All Welcome”.  If the message of God is not always welcome and if the only way to hear it is to go to church, maybe that’s a reason people don’t go? Is this perhaps our way of getting out of “proclaiming”.  In an old magazine called Crusade, I remember seeing a cartoon of a church notice-board with the caption “Frying Tonight, Fish Welcome”!

Our message may not always be welcome, but if we don’t “Walk across the Room”, as Bill Hybels urges us in his book, then we will not “catch fish”. The witness of our experience of God not disappointing us is much more powerful than any printed notice.

A thought loosely based on Rom 9.14 and Hybels!

How can they know you if you never said Hi? And how can they tell their story if you’ve never listened? And how can you share your message if you don’t earn their trust? And how can they welcome the message if they don’t hear it from you?