Welcome?

“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 should be welcoming places?

Uh oh, be careful not to answer to quickly!

If the answer is yes, then to what degree are we to be welcoming places?

Is it an unconditional welcome like Gods’ love?

Is everyone welcome? If yes, then what are the implications of that?

All are welcome without regard to...to what?

The fact is I can’t always honestly answer with an emphatic yes or no.

Let me tip my hand just a bit by re-phrasing the question this way:

(Let’s see if this changes or tempers your answer at all)

Should sheep folds be welcoming places?

To what degree are they to be welcoming places?

Is everyone welcome in the sheep fold?

If so, what are the implications of that?

Are wolves welcome into the sheep fold?

No? 

Well then, sheep folds are not necessarily welcoming places to all are they?

There just might be some discrimination necessary.

Maybe if I change that word discrimination to discernment – does that help?

Let’s use discernment and discipline wisely to keep wolves out of the sheep fold.