The Meaning of "A Welcoming Church"

How many times have you seen a church's web page, literature, or even street sign proclaim that they are a "Welcoming Church"? We all know what that means to the modern ear. It means that the LGBTQrs+ are welcome to come in, their identities and behaviors are accepted and even celebrated, and that you can come to Jesus and not expect Him to change you. This is called "radical inclusion, inclusivity, or inclusiveness".

Well, in today's reading from Luke 15:1-10, the first two verses of which are commonly used as an argument for radical inclusion, lays that argument to rest in the parable of the lost sheep and lost coins.

 

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’

Indeed, Jesus welcomes all, sinners included, to come to the table with him, but repentance is key, not pride. 

Churches that advertise that "all are welcome" are usually not going to preach about sin and repentance. Instead, they rejoice in the unrepentant sinner. 

So all that talk about being a "welcoming church" is so much modern day virtue signaling which makes those congregations oh so proud of their heretical teaching.