Have you ever experienced going to a church where you didn't feel at home, or feel welcomed? If you have, be comforted by this: You're not alone.
A Silent Trend
Being a church leader for some time opened my eyes to the reality that there are some people who don't feel welcomed or acknowledged in their churches, and this is a sad truth—a trend that's unspoken of and often unnoticeable in many churches in different places. Let's call this "a lack of a real community."
Many churchgoers are looking for a real connection with people who really care about them. After all, the church is a body of people believing in Christ, and those who follow Christ are told to "love one another" (John 13:34). The Lord Jesus said that a genuine love for one another is the mark that will distinguish His followers from those who don't. (see John 13:35)
Yet it's this love for one another that appears to be missing in some churches. It's not the same for all churches, but the truth is that while it's not bad to desire the church to grow in number, it's wrong to pursue a huge church attendance while neglecting the needs of the saints.
A Biblical Example
Consider what happened to the early church in the book of Acts. According to Acts 2:47, the church grew daily, and Acts 5:14 tells us that "throngs of believers were added to the Lord."
That's a good and beautiful thing! We are to rejoice when more and more people come to the Lord Jesus Christ.
However, Acts 6:1 tells us that "when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution."
Uh-oh. The problem is not that the church was small. The problem is not that the church was growing. The problem is that some believers were neglected as the church grew.
Do You Feel That Way?
Do you feel like your church has neglected you? Or do you feel like other new believers are wanted, while you aren't? If you do, let me assure you: God loves you, even if some people in the church don't.
Jesus said, "Those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them." (John 6:37)
Even if some people in the church you go to do not acknowledge or appreciate your presence, God does. And He will never turn you away.
God will come to your aid just like He did to those widows that were neglected. Acts 6:2-7 details for us how God's people made efforts to meet the needs of those widows, assigning a group of men to take charge of their welfare.
In the same way, trust God to make a way for you. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Come to Him, and He'll take good care of you.
