Evaluate your church

In Luke 7:36-50 a woman with a bad reputation"showed up" a prominent and respected religious leader.  

The scene was a party and the central figure was Jesus.  The host of the party, a Pharisee, should have offered the utmost of his hospitality, but he offered not even the bare minimum that would be expected.  At the very least he should have provided water for Jesus to wash his own feet.  The woman, broken and full of appreciation, did the very opposite...she did so much for Jesus that everyone present became embarrassed (except Jesus.)  Let's fast forward to now, today...think about our church.

As we host people who come to us for hospitality (understanding it's as if we're receiving, visiting, and giving a cup of cold water to Jesus himself,) are we also shown up by this woman?  We're really good at finding the fault of those we read about in the Bible who failed miserably to represent God's character accurately to a lost world.  But could we also be in this story?

Do we...

1. wash the feet of those who come to us?  Do we go overboard to serve the obvious needs that we see and that no one else seems willing to address?

2. kiss each person God brings to us?  Do we welcome with enthusiasm and dignity every person, treating them as an invited guest whom we were anxiously waiting for their arrival?

3. anoint our guests with oil?  Do they find true and transforming refreshment through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives as we lead them to encounter God and as we pray for their needs and speak hopeful and spiritual words into their lives?

4. feed our guests?  Do they receive the Word of God, taught accurately and applied specifically to the real world that they live in?  Are they challenged to respond by faith to the Word of God for salvation and spiritual guidance?

The "sinful" woman did the first three things but didn't bring Jesus food.  I suspect that the host at least got this part right.  However, it was too little too late.  The choice to offer dignity and service originates from genuine love and is the pre-requisite of the meal.

Neither the "sinful" woman nor Jesus was loved by the host and unfortunately that seems to be the problem with some churches, God willing not ours!  Our love for Jesus and others is evidenced in the way we serve others, greet people, pray for the Spirit's work, and then by the biblical feast we offer!