Long-time youth minister Mel Johnson relates the
following letter written by a high school girl to her Christian friend,
and dated Monday morning.
"I attended your church yesterday. Although you
had invited me only once, I felt that you were sincere in wanting me to
come. I came alone. I looked for you, hoping to sit beside you. But you
were not there. A stranger, I wanted to sit near the back of the church.
But I couldn’t. Those rows were all packed. An usher had to lead me
right up to the front. I felt as if I were on parade.
"The congregation sang songs that I didn’t know.
I tried to mumble along and pretend I was singing, but I had never heard
those songs before. I must confess that I was surprised to note that some
of the church people weren’t singing. Between their sighs and yawns they
just stared into space. Three of the kids that I had respected on campus
were whispering to one another. Another girl was giggling. I really did
not expect that in your church.
"The pastor’s sermon was interesting, although
some members of the choir didn’t seem to think so. They looked bored and
restless. One kept smiling at someone in the congregation. The pastor
spoke about the reality of faith. The message got to me, and I made up my
mind to speak to someone about it after the service. But utter chaos
reigned after the benediction.
"I said 'Good morning' to one couple, but their
greeting was less than cordial. I looked for some teens with whom I could
discuss the sermon, but they were huddled in a corner talking about the
newest records. One girl looked my way but just waved.
"My parents don’t go to church. I came alone
yesterday hoping to find a friendly congregation in which they wouldn’t
feel too out-of-place. But as I left, I wasn’t too impressed with the
sign outside the church that read, 'The friendly church with the warm
welcome.' I’m sorry, but I won’t be back."
What a picture of many churches today—cold,
indifferent, self-centered, just using church as a social event. So many
members are not concerned about visitors in need of a Savior and who need
to see the reality of God’s love in the lives of His children.
Let us ask God to give us a renewed sense of His
presence as we worship, realizing that He knows our motive for being
there. Remember that others are watching our every move, and that our
actions could have a lifelong impact on someone’s faith, determining
their eternal destiny.
Dear friend, if someone met you for the first time on
Sunday morning in your church would they want to come back just because
they met you?
"Do not merely look out for your own personal
interest, but also for the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4).
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