Which Are You?

 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)

Some churches all over our great nation still hold services under trying conditions: in parked cars in the church parking lot, sitting six feet apart in marked pews, and over social media. Even with these and other precautions, many at-risk people are still hesitant to attend. One concerned at-risk adult was hesitant about attending services. She mentioned a thought to a relative who contacted their pastor, asking if the idea was feasible for their church. The pastor took immediate action and personally reserved a private entrance to a reserved area with distance seating so those who felt at risk would feel safe. All members received the message, and that Sunday, many people sat in that section who otherwise would have stayed home.

Scenario:  Two visitors attended the same Sunday worship service. One visitor saw the senior adults in one corner of the auditorium and later told a friend how disrespectful it was to isolate them. They both agreed such actions could deter people from attending that church; it did for them. The second visitor was impressed that the church had a reserved section for at-risk attendees and later told a friend about it. They were both looking for a new church family and decided to return the following week.

If you were one of the two church visitors that morning, which are you? We don’t always know the facts behind what we see, form wrong conclusions, and our judgments cause others to falter. The word “corrupt” in verse 29 means “contaminating, bad, offensive.” Your comments, attitude, and actions are influential. Do they draw people to Jesus or drive them away?