For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” (Romans 10:13-15)
Should we be expecting people to come to us? Should we wait for them to enter the doors of our church buildings? Or should we be making the moves to go to them even when there are numerous churches around for them to visit?
I don’t recall seeing a scripture that says one needs to go to church to know Jesus Christ. I don’t see a verse that states that salvation is found in attending church on Saturdays or Sundays. Where does it tell us in the Bible that coming to Jesus can only be done by coming to church?
Church is not the only place to meet Jesus
Coming to church may be the way some come to know Christ personally through the message preached by the pastor at the front. But one can also come to personally know Jesus through the Bible study at the prison, through a salvation message preached during a street service, through a weekend youth camp or in the middle of an art gallery. While God has been clear that salvation can come through no one else but Jesus Christ (see Acts 4:11-12), He has not stipulated specifics such as where, when, what day, etc; only Who salvation can come through.
So why do we make those who are not followers of Jesus Christ feel guilty about not going to church? How do we see this as helpful in encouraging a non-believer to know Jesus? Many have already experienced a lifetime of judgments for not adhering to others’ expectations for their lives. Do we really believe that judging them for not going to church or refusing invites to church will influence them to come to church?
Jesus can meet people wherever they are! It does not have to be in a church building! Even if we believe this, our words can communicate otherwise when we speak of those who do not go to church. We can still invite others to church but let us beware of passing judgment when our offer is not accepted. We need to leave God to work on the church piece with them. God is not confined to the church walls and therefore one does not need to walk in a church building to meet Him.
Taking the Good News on the road
Our focal verse reminds believers that our going out to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ is critical for opportunities of salvation for non-believers:
For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” (Romans 10:13-15)
We, the Church, the Body of Christ, have been given the role of Christ’s ambassadors to keep the message of the Gospel out there. We are the beautiful feet being sent out to bring Good News to the many who need to know. Let us not be critical of those who chose not to come through our church doors. Instead let’s do all we can to get the Gospel out to everyone that they can have an opportunity for a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, whether they grace us with their presence in our churches or not. We just never know where Jesus will show up to draw one to Him!
Considerations 