What About the Castaways?

What responsibility do we have regarding the large crowds of people who are leaving the church in search of Jesus?

Every week, many go to their last Sunday Morning Service. Isolated by being seated facing lots of people’s backs and one person’s face, if they are looking for fellowship, they just leave still lonely. If the preacher really is a pastor, and they are looking for instruction on how to live changed lives, the teaching is thin soup, because it is not empowered by the spiritual gift of teacher. The cultural expressions of worship in any given meeting do not match the cultural identities of all of the people who are present. A young person isolated in a crowd of old people, or vice versa, will not feel connected to the Body as a Family.

As children, we probably all experienced a piece of playground equipment that was a large, round platform with rails to hold on to. One or more kids would run around it, spinning it faster and faster. It was either thrilling or nauseating. If you wanted to get off before it stopped, you could just turn loose of the rail and it would launch you spinning into the grass or dirt.

What responsibility do we, you and I, have regarding those who turn loose from the merry-go-round and are just cast out into the cold? How valid is any relationship that we might develop with them regarding being “ekklesia” to them?

If you know any believers who are not “going to church,” ask the Head of the Body how to bless them and how to invite them to fellowship with Him. They may never relate to a Sunday Morning Service again, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be part of His Body and doing His work and connected to His people in effective, Life-sharing ways.

Ask Him about the one who has wandered. Be willing to care about them with His love for them. Don’t invite them to church. Embrace them with His fellowship. Engage them in ekklesia.