Don't block the door to church

The phrase you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar makes good sense. Especially in our churches. We tend to judge people, point our fingers and point out their faults to make them feel bad. This is the reason most people don’t go to church. Many people say hypocrites go to church.

Our churches are like the scribe, pharisees and hypocrites. In Matthew Chapter 23 “The seven woes,” Jesus rebuked the Pharisees.

They were held in high esteem in the market places, had the seats of honor, in the synagogues. People called them Rabbi. Jesus told his disciples to not be like them.

They lived by the old law of Moses and made their own Sabbath laws. Jesus said to his disciples to “Not be called Rabbi, not to call anyone Father, because they have one Father in heaven and not to call anyone teacher, because Christ was their teacher.”

Jesus even used harsh words to the Pharisees when he said “Woe to you Scribes, Pharisees and Hypocrites," not to mention calling them snakes and vipers.

After attending a service at the Salvation Army, Captain Jason Perdieu was preaching a message about showing love. We should open our arms and welcome our neighbors and sinners. Instead of pointing fingers and condemning, we should show love and mercy.

A renowned evangelist Joel Osteen preached this same message. His church is a large church in Houston, TX and he has a big following.

We should make our church a welcome place. About a month ago our choir at First Presbyterian sang an Anthem “Make This Church A Welcome Place.”

The music is by Joel Raney and the words are by J. Paul Williams. Jesus came to forgive and not to condemn. In closing I would like to share a story about a hippie couple that lived in a commune and they wanted a change.

They moved to a decent neighborhood and made friends with their next door neighbors. The neighbors invited them to go to church with them, Upon their arrival a hard nosed miserly deacon blocked the door and wouldn’t let them in. All because of their outward appearance.

Church is a hospital for sinners. This was a true story that my brother Leslie read. We need to let people in our churches. Don’t block the door.

Donald Putman El Dorado