Visitors

Every three months or so we have a “Visitor’s Sunday” in Maastricht. The members are encouraged to invite their friends, colleagues and acquaintances to share our time as a family. We have a meal afterwards and spend time getting to know one another. But this Sunday morning family time is only a part of who we are.

In general (“modern” times), worship ‘services’, or times of corporate worship have been used as avenues of evangelism. But that is not why we come together. That time on the first day of the week (for us that is in the morning, for others perhaps another time) is a time for us as children of the King to worship Him and encourage each other in doing that daily. It is a time to remember what He has done for us and to devote ourselves anew to being children of the King. It is “our” time.

Some visitors will understand this. For others it might seem strange. God tells us through the apostle Paul that if we are busy building each other up and growing in the word that visitors will be convicted and convinced (see 1 Cor. 14:22-25). So I want us to focus on what we need to grow, to rededicate ourselves, to build each other up in the Lord and to fully worship the One who gives us life.

I must admit that this has not always been my way of thinking. And visitors are still very welcome. But we are focusing on reaching our “visitors” in family and relational situations and on being a family outside of our corporate worship times. In this way our worship is truly for the One who deserves all worship. I pray that the few visitors we have on that day see and understand that we so adore God that we can’t help but worship him.