there is room for you

One of the many things I love about running is its "all inclusive".  If you are a runner you are a runner.  It doesn't matter if you run a 5 minute mile or a 15 minute mile.  It doesn't matter your nationality, race, or creed.  It doesn't matter if you are male, female, or child.  It doesn't matter if your southern, northern, or foreign.  It doesn't matter if you are an elite, moderate, or beginner.  It doesn't matter if you do it for competition, health, or fun.  A runner understands the dedication and hard work it takes to log those miles week after week.  They understand what it is to run in the sun, rain, or snow.  We all look at each other and talk with a mutual respect and try our best to encourage one another.

This past Saturday before I ran my first 10k I met a guy and was talking to him, he asked me if I was running the 5 or 10k.  I told him I was running my first 10k, and he asked me what my goal was and I told him I wanted to finish in under 90 minutes.  He said that was a good goal and he hoped I was able to accomplish it.  You may ask why this is relevant or important.  Well.  This guy finished the 10k in under 30 minutes, let me help you calculate that it was under 5 minute miles.  My goal was under 90 minutes which would be under 15 minute miles.  Do you get the picture yet.  He was faster and better, but yet he encouraged me to do my best and accomplish my goals.  He understood what most runners understand:  there is room for everyone, and they are welcome into the community.

 

The community of faith is supposed to operate this way.  Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey.  Regardless of your background, regardless of your nationality, regardless of your skin tone, regardless of your preference on translation, regardless of your social status, school district, ethnicity, address, or dollar amount in your account we are all welcome into the body of Christ.

^9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. (Re 7:9.,NIV)

I am a firm believer that there will be a lot of believers and communities of faith (who think they have cornered the market with Jesus) that will be vastly surprised in Heaven one day.  They just don't get it.  They don't get that it's not based upon their opinion, but upon a person confession of Christ that justifies them to be in Heaven one day. 

I long for the day when the church opens its arms to "every nation, tribe, people and language" without hesitation and with as much love in their hearts as they could possibly muster up.  I long for the church to be the embodiment of Christ and show it to their communities.  Far too many people today view their church as some private club that you have to do some traditional ritual to be part of it.  They feel the people have to look like them, dress like them, act like them, and be like them in order to fit in or be part of it.

When will we welcome all in?  When will we be able to look past others flaws?  When will we be able to see past the outside?  When will we be able be the church God has called us to be?

Our communities are searching for the truth, for hope, and for a better life than what they have.  They are looking for a place to belong, a place to learn, a place that truly and genuinely cares for them and their families.

Jesus has made it very clear that in Heaven before the Lamb is every nation, tribe, and tongue, let us make the church the realization of what Heaven will be.

There is room for you.  Yes there is.  There is room for the broken, there is room for the lonely, there is room for the seeker, there is room for the beginner, there is room for the believer, there is room for the old, there is room for the family, there is room for the single, there is room for the divorced, there is room for the happy, there is room for the sad, there is room for gen x and gen y, there is room for the baby boomers, there is room for the sports fan, there is room for the book worm, there is room for the educated, there is room for the worker, there is room for the farmer, there is room for the business person, there is room for the democrat, there is room for the republican, there is room for the grandparent, there is room for the grandchild, there is room for the rich, there is room for the middle class, there is room for the retired, there is room for student, there is room for the American, there is room for the Asian, there is room for the Canadian, there is room for the Mexican, there is room for the French, there is room for the Vietnamese,  There is room for everyone, and this includes you.

No matter where you find yourself in this journey of life, there is room for you in the place and Kingdom of God.

If you need a place to welcome you, come see us at Enka Baptist Church, I can promise you that there is room for you to be you.  If not here, find somewhere that you are part of the church of God.

Chris