Would Moses be Welcome at Your Church?

Feeling a little “soap boxy” today for my blog. So you have been forewarned.

Moses – Murderer

David – Adulterer and Murderer

Peter – Denier of Christ

Paul – Killer and Imprisoner of Christians

Would any of these men, as described be welcome in your church? Before you just jump up and say “YES!” What if their names were Joe, Jim, Bob and Tom? Would Tom the murderer be welcomed with open arms into your worship service? He should be. But honestly, would he be? Or would there be a group over here and a group over there staring and pointing and talking about Tom?

Would anybody in your church, including the Pastor, go up to Tom and welcome him and tell him how awesome it was for him to be in God’s house and you are honored he chose to worship with you? Or would Tom have to awkwardly make his way to a seat and feel like a leper in your service?

How would people react if Jim the adulterer walked in? Would they look to the rafters to make sure the roof would fall in? Or how about this? Would someone from your congregation go invite Jim to church? Or would he go unnoticed because of his sin?

How about this thought?  Would Jesus Himself be welcome at your church?  I mean, think about this.  If a man in your community was known to hang out with drug dealers, prostitutes, the lowest of lows in society shows up at your church, what will the reaction be?  Jesus hung out with these kinds of people all the time!  Would you hear, "There's that guy, I saw him at the bar last night!  And he was talking to a known hooker!"   "I know!  I saw him down by the bridge last week with that drug dealer!  What's he doing here?!"

There are times that Christians get that “church lady” attitude when we think we are a “little bit superior” to others because our sins aren’t quite as bad as others. We want to categorize sins like we do clothes, small, medium, large, XL, XXL and XXXL. But the truth is ANY sin separates us from God. Your little white lie and their murder are both sins and without forgiveness, grace and mercy they keep us from the Father.

Jesus tells a wonderful parable in Matthew 20 in which a man needed workers for his vineyard. Workers were promised a day’s wage to help the man get in his grapes. Some were there for 12 hours, 6 hours, 3 hours even 1 hour. When the landowner when to pay everyone he paid those who had worked just 1 hour first and gave them a full day’s pay. When he got to the 12 hour workers he paid them the same amount. They complained! This isn’t fair!! We worked all day and they worked 1 hour and we all get the same reward? The landowner told those guys it’s really none of their business how he spends his money. He gave them what he promised to give them. They should be happy.

So many Christians are like this. They live their lives the “right” way and then get upset when someone who has really messed up in life comes to know Christ. “It’s not fair!” And God says, “It is really none of your business how I dispense my grace. I will keep my promise to you and to that sinner as well.” Rather than grumble when a murderer comes to Christ (or comes back to Christ) we should rejoice!!

40 years after killing a man, Moses was used by God to lead His people out of captivity. 50 days after saying he never even knew who Jesus was and cursing a little girl, Peter preached the first Gospel sermon. 3 days after being blinded on a road in which his mission was to imprison Christians, Paul was preaching Christ. David after all of his junk with Bathsheba was still known as a man after God’s own heart.

God used these men, broken, sinful, worms to do great works in His Kingdom. He didn’t sit around and gossip about them. He didn’t spread rumors about them. He didn’t condemn them for their actions. He forgave them, showered them with His grace, loved them and put them to work.

Note that each of these men were broken before they could be used. They also went through a time of repentance and contriteness. One of my favorite of the Psalms is 51. David shows remorse and repentance like no other.

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight."

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

“Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me." And he went away, weeping bitterly.” Matt 26:75


If there are Moses’, Peters, Davids and Pauls who wish to worship with you, don’t treat them as outsiders. Welcome them warmly. You never know what God may have in store for them, and you!