Your pastor has asked you to be a Sunday morning greeter. You’re honored—but also a little nervous—because it’s a big responsibility. You’ve been greeted yourself, and you know how important it is to make people feel welcome, especially first-time visitors. What you say—and how you say it—could determine whether they ever come back or become part of your church family.
You’ve taken your responsibility so seriously that you’ve memorized the names of most of your congregation so you can greet them personally.
You arrive early, and so do John and Carol Adams with their two children.
“Good morning, John! Carol! Hi, kids. You’re early this morning. Have you had a good week?”
As they take a bulletin and head inside, something catches your eye. A bright yellow Lamborghini pulls into the church parking lot. Out steps a man impeccably dressed. He approaches you with a warm smile and extends his hand, which you eagerly shake.
“Good morning. Nice car.”
And it isn’t just the car that’s impressive. His tailored suit is clearly expensive. Gold rings gleam on his fingers. A red carnation is pinned neatly to his lapel. He looks as though he’s dressed for an audience with a king. His appearance even makes you wish a few regular attenders had shown the same respect instead of looking as though they had just rolled out of bed. You’re about to compliment him on his attire when you hear a voice behind you.
“Excuse me… I have a couple of questions.”
You turn to see a homeless man. You feel a twinge of impatience because you’re already engaged in conversation.
“Then James speaks: Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? (James 2:2–5)”
“Do you know what time the service ends? And…” He hesitates. “Will there be doughnuts afterward?”
You politely answer his questions, all the while thinking about the other man who is waiting patiently. Turning back to him, you say quietly, “I’m sorry about that.”
Rather than simply greeting him, you decide to escort him into the auditorium.
“Let me show you where you can sit. I have just the place.”
What happens next is almost comical. The homeless man assumes you’re talking to him, too. Suddenly, both men follow you into the sanctuary. Now you have a dilemma. You really don’t want the homeless man sitting next to Mr. Lamborghini. If that happens, you’ll probably never see him again. You glance around and notice a few elders milling about. You’re wondering what to do… Then James speaks:
“…if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:2–5)
