I learned something today that I really knew but never thought much about. We were at church this morning, our fill-in minister was talking about how he had met an individual and was talking to him when the subject of church came up. The person he was talking to told him that he had been looking for a church on the Internet. Our minister then related that it brought to mind the fact that many people believe that because of financial circumstances or their ability to dress well, they may not be welcome in church.
That immediately brought a song to my mind. Johnny Paycheck had sung it quite a few years ago. It is about him (Johnny Paycheck) going to a church while he was out on the road performing. If you have seen Mr. Paycheck, you would know what I am talking about. He was a gruff looking man with a beard, long hair and he dressed kind of unconventionally. He was outside the church and could hear them singing. He decided to go inside and join the service. As he entered the church, he was met by a man in a suit that blocked his way and told him that he could not enter, looking the way that he did. Mr. Paycheck left the church and went outside. He started talking to Jesus. He told Jesus that he didn’t understand what had happened. He couldn’t understand why he was not welcome in the House of the Lord. He said to Jesus that he had seen a picture in that church and that he had remembered that Jesus had a beard, sandals and long hair. He said to Jesus that if that was the way it had to be for him to go to church, then he didn’t want to be a part of it. He would just do his praying and keep his religious thoughts to himself. That made me start thinking about our church and that if anyone ever thought that about us. I know that first impressions are usually what sticks in peoples minds and that if you give off a bad first impression, you may lose a potential new member.
When Joyce and I were looking for a new church to go to after we had moved here, we went to several in the area and first impressions were one of the things that drove us off to find a new place. A good friend of ours had told us about the church that he was a member of and asked us to come some Sunday and check it out. We did, and the first impressions were almost overwhelming to us. It was as though they had known us forever. We joined some time later and have enjoyed being there and being a part of a great congregation.
I would like for people who are looking for a church to know that you don’t have to dress in high-dollar clothes; you don’t have to be rich. The only thing we ask is that you want to learn about a loving and forgiving God that will be with you forever.
John-----Jan/28/2008
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