I was asked this question last week by a young person. Can anyone come to church. I said absolutely yes. They then said doesn’t the church turn certain people away? I said a church should never do that. The person then said why do people say the church hates certain people. I then knew where they were going with their questions. For revival to happen and last and do amazing things, we must love every single human being as Jesus loves them. We cannot turn anyone away, but the key here is loving them the way Jesus loves them.

The church today has compromised so many things in the name of fitting in. Many churches no longer hold to the Bible as the standard. Consequently, churches that do hold to the Bible are labeled as haters, intolerant, not loving. They then say that certain people are not welcome at our church because of that. That is simply not so.

Many define love as accepting people just as they are. If they think differently their version of love says let them be who they want to be. Respect the other person. I have a question for those who say this is love. What if the person you say you love is doing something that will harm themselves and you have the information to help them? For example the one you love wants to walk across the street. They can’t see around the corner, but you can from your position. You see an 18-wheeler coming at full speed, if they cross the street, they will get run over. You say to the person don’t cross the street and they go, I am going anyway, do you respect that decision, or do you do anything you can to save that person that you love from dying. I hope you would. They may not want you to stop them, they may think you are keeping them from where they want to go, but they need you to or they would die. Love in this instance is stopping them, even though it is not their desire to be stopped.

In the church anyone should feel welcome and loved. One of the ways love is shown is by letting them know the path they are going in, is not from the Lord, and we don’t want to see them in hell. Jesus wants everyone with Him in heaven, but there is only ONE WAY to get there.

The problem is in many churches one of two things happens. We lower the bar and hope Jesus is OK with that because it makes sense to us. Guess what Jesus will not lower His standard, no matter what man will say. The other thing is we go way over the top when telling people what Jesus wants. In the old days it was called fire and brimstone or soapbox preaching. With fire and brimstone, you scare someone to Jesus, but that is not what Jesus wants. And if someone accepts Jesus because they were scared, did they really accept what Jesus did for them? And soapbox preaching is fun, but all it does is make the other side dig their heels in further.

Why are people trying to change the Bible or say this is, OK? Why do people feel they can do what God says you shouldn’t do? Because they are looking for something that is real, and they have not found it.

A relationship with Jesus is what really works, and we need to pursue the lost is a way that helps them find that truth. So yes, we should accept anyone who comes through the door. We should go up to them and tell them we love them. We should endeavor to have a relationship with them. All the while showing them in a loving way what Jesus says, so they can come to the point where they find out on their own what the right way is. There is only ONE right way. That means we may have to put up with some things while they are coming to Jesus. It does not mean we accept sin in any way, but we love the sinner and try to help them realize they need a savior and show them that in love.

That is love, accepting them as a person who God created, who needs Jesus, and respecting them at the same time, by showing them the truth in a loving way. Saying Jesus loves you, but He does not want this for you. Hopefully then they will see that you are not criticizing them or hating them, but that you genuinely care for where they end up. They will then see your life and see the need for them to change. Then when they do change, the change is real, the change is permanent. Why, because they came to Jesus on their own terms and found out that He is most definitely real and loves them and they in turn want to love Jesus and follow Him.

When I first came to New Beginnings Church, I said in one of my first sermons. I can’t wait for the day a stripper comes to church in all her glory and we treat her with the love of Christ, and she feels welcome and finds what she is looking for. Then you will see change that is organic and wonderful, that not only changes her life, but the lives of those around her, along with the church as the church sees a real salvation change in real time in real life. Wow!

Revival once again is all about souls. God gives us revival in our souls, so we are motivated to go out and win souls to the Lord in mass quantities with real love!

Back to the original question, yes, yes, and most definitely YES everyone is welcome in the church, especially New Beginnings Church in Punxsutawney. We love everyone, but we will share with you the truth in love because we not only care about your life now, but where you will be for all eternity!

Remember Jesus loves you; I love you, and you are awesome!