| “Why Should I Invite?”
Oscar Wilde’s Aunt Jane once gave a grand party. She died of embarrassment when nobody came. It was only at her funeral that it was revealed that she had never mailed the invitations. People come to church because they are invited. But, inviting somebody to church, quite frankly, makes us uncomfortable. Yet we do other things that are not comfortable. We paint the house in 90 degree weather because we know we’ll have more problems if we don’t. We squirm all day before we ask the boss for a raise, but we do it because we need the extra money. We dread the eight hour drive to Grandma’s, but we go because she enjoys the children so much. Our culture tells us, “don’t bug others,” “live and let live,” don’t get involved,” and “nobody’s got the corner on truth.” The contrast between what society demands and what our Savior expects is clear. We invite not because it is easy or comfortable or acceptable, but because it is a part of our role as Christians. A 19th century philosopher told a story about a man seeing a sign in a store window in a small European town. The sign said: “Pants Pressed Here.” He went in and started to remove his trousers. The clerk asked what he was doing. The man said, “I saw your sign and wanted my pants pressed.” The clerk responded, “Oh, we don’t press pants here. We just paint signs.” It says “Church of Christ” out in front of our building. Do we serve Him and seek others for Him, or do we just paint signs? Harold Shank, Bulletin Digest |