David Wiggs, in his book titled Who Needs a Welcome, told this story… I saw
him in the church building for the first time on Wednesday. He was in his
mid-70's with thinning silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in the
past I had invited him to come. Several other Christian friends had talked to
him about the Lord and had tried to share the good news with him. He was well
respected, honest, a man of good character. He acted much like a Christian
would act, but he never came to church or professed Christ. After I got to know
him well and we had talked about a wide range of subjects I asked him if he had
ever been to a church service.
He hesitated. Then with a twisted grimace told
me of an experience he had as a boy. He was raised in a large family. His
parents survived the depression but they struggled to provide food and clothing
for the family. When he was around ten years old a friend invited him to go to
church with his family.
He went - the Sunday School class was great. The
songs were fun to sing and the stories, oh the great Bible stories, were
exciting to hear. He had never heard anyone read from the Bible before. As
class ended the teacher pulled him aside and said, "Son, please don't come
again dressed as you are now. We want to look our best when we come into God's
house."
He looked down at his old hand me down overalls
that were certainly worn and tattered. He thought about that for a moment and
said softly, "No ma'am I won't ever." Then he looked at me, the
author wrote and said, "And you know what... I never did." It was
clear that he was done with that conversation.
I am sure that the Sunday School teacher meant
well and in fact was representing the feeling of the majority of the folks in
that church. But what if she had put her arms around that dirty little boy in
the ragged overalls and said, "Son, I am thrilled that you came this
morning and I hope you will come every chance you get to hear more about Jesus
because he loves you so much." Moreover what if she would have talked with
her pastor or her friends in the church and mobilized a full blown outreach
effort to help this family make ends meet.
What if that church would have thought, Whoever
welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
Or whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because
he is a disciple will receive a great reward (v. 40 & 42)
The story ended like this: Yes I saw him in the
church house for the first time on Wednesday and I cried as I looked at the
immaculately dressed old gentleman lying there in his casket. He was looking
his best in God’s House. But all I could
think of were those words of an impressionable little ten-year-old echoing in
my mind, "No ma'am I won't ever."
David Wiggs, Who Needs a Welcome?
