Welcoming All

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. – Acts 28:30

While under house arrest in Rome, Paul welcomed all who came to see him.

How do you understand this statement? We’d be wrong to simply see it as a matter of hospitality. We’d also be wrong if we quickly reduced it to a church growth strategy.

Luke’s description of Paul is much deeper than simple hospitality or church growth tactics. What does it mean to welcome all?

This is what you do if you follow Jesus.

Jesus welcomed saints and sinners, young children and elderly folks. He welcomed religious leaders and prostitutes. Jesus touched lepers and was known as a friend of “tax collectors and sinners.”

In the final paragraph in the book of Acts, Luke is reminding us that the early church was simply following in the steps of Jesus.

As Christians, we hold a fundamental truth about people: we believe every person is created by God in his image. Do you ever wonder how God feels when we disregard or devalue his handiwork?

As a father of two daughters, I know how I would feel if someone was mistreating my children!

If we welcome all, does this mean that we will have to agree with everything that everyone believes? Of course not. It also doesn’t  mean we give up our convictions – but we must welcome everyone.

Here’s what you can’t do: You can’t call someone a mindless idiot on social media, then turn around and say, “But you’re welcome at my church.”

Saying “you’re welcome here” is more than just offering to leave the door open if someone we disagree with happens to stumble. It’s saying, “we want you here.”