A Wolf at the Door

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep.

So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.

Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.”

John 10:11-12

Should churches welcome terrorists?

I know that sounds like a dumb question but it really isn’t when you consider the question: Should churches be welcoming places?

After all ISIS issued a hit list of churches for their followers to attack this past Christmas season.

Should any of those churches have welcomed them?

Of course not!

They were not interested in hearing the Gospel, they were only interested in harm and destruction, they were bent on evil intentions.

Most terrorists don’t wear a sign declaring who they are.

They are disguised, discreet and hidden.

An ‘angel of light’ to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect of God.

Only after they have wrought their carnage do they take credit for it and are exposed for who they really were. 

Another example for you -

Who is Dylann Roof?

“Dylann Storm Roof is an American mass murderer and white supremacist convicted of perpetrating the June 17, 2015, Charleston church shooting, also known as the Charleston church massacre.”

Dylann Roof was welcomed into that church in Charleston.

He sat through their prayer meeting and then killed nine people, six women and three men, all black, including the Pastor who was a state senator.

He did this in the hopes of igniting a race war.

He was welcomed into their church.

Should sheep folds be welcoming places?

I think back to my military service and a time I visited the catacombs in Rome. Why did believers go into hiding? Because they were facing persecution, torture and martyrdom for their faith.

I am not advocating we go into hiding.

I am not advocating we so shutter the doors of the church that no one feels welcome.

I am saying that we need discernment and wisdom in these days and there will be times when some are not welcomed freely into the church or allowed to stay – and for good reason.

Wisdom and discernment (and yes, even love) sometimes dictate that we ‘dis-fellowship’ some.

In other words we invite them out of instead of into our fellowship.

Not because we are mean and not because we do not welcome others but because not everyone comes with good intentions.