Invite Much?

Including others and being included feels good. Most people have a desire to fulfill an internal need to belong. I do not believe that we are supposed to pursue this internal desire on our own. I believe that we are to both seek to belong as well as play a part in helping others feel like they belong as well, don't you? Why then, do we all too often invite someone to church, and then think that we are done with our part?

I know for the longest time, this was me. My part was to invite people to church, and even tell them where and when they should go. I was good at it, and I am sure more than a few people found their way to church, but I started to wonder: is this really all I am supposed to do?

We are all called by God to God, but we are not just called to make us feel better, we are called for God as well. To do what? Let's look at this verse, because Jesus told us exactly what He expects us to do:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." Matthew 28:19(a) ESV

Make disciples? Another word for disciple is learner or follower of Jesus the Christ. Jesus did not say attenders, or believers, or even converts, He said disciples. So I had to consider my part in the church again: was I just supposed to ask? No way.

What Jesus did not do is tell us exactly the programatic, structured, churchy way we had to do this, He just said do it. That "Just do it" slogan could really catch on, don't ya think? So I started wondering what else should I be doing in this process, and came to a very simple conclusion: more. I keep on inviting people to church, but now I write their name down in a journal, pray that God will move them to come, and then look for them each Sunday.

I know that Jesus is the only way to God and eternal life, but I also know that there is no limit to the ways to get to Jesus. The church is a gathering place of His disciples, sharing how God is working, what He is doing, and encouraging one another to stay the course. So what if I am, or you are, God's chosen tool to help get them connected or re-connected to Him?

You might have invited them, but it doesn't stop there. If someone comes to church because you invited them, maybe God wants you to show them what being connected to God looks like before they will consider it for themselves...what if? Now we are at church not for what we can get, but looking for how God will use us next.

Get it?!

In His grip,

Pastor Pat