Heralds Of Invitation

Luke 14:15-24

Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. (Luke 14:23)

ONE OF SOCIETY’S MORE unsympathetic perceptions of missionaries and other religious people is that they shove their faith down people’s throats—a sentiment expressed candidly in the vicious online commentary that often follows news articles and blog posts but is also communicated more subtly in university classrooms and mainstream media. It’s historically true that conversions sometimes came through heavy-handed tactics, even at the point of a sword. But those were exceptions to our calling and, in spite of accusations of economic coercion or cultural imperialism, it’s not how things normally happen today. In fact, most missionaries are ambassadors of reconciliation and hope, which all can agree are much needed in this world. Jesus sent his followers out with good news.

There’s nothing wrong with having conversations about spiritual topics. Many accusations against Christians are scare tactics from people who don’t want to be bothered with other people’s beliefs while freely expressing their own. But every conversation is filled with opinions that may or may not change the mind of someone else. The desire to influence is embedded in the human heart, and our society overflows with settings where influence is the primary goal: classrooms, political and philosophical debates, newspaper columns, television ads, blogs, social media, and so much more. The problem for some isn’t that we talk about faith; it’s that we talk about a particular kind of faith—one that comes with a lot of cultural baggage and stereotypes. Many people are done with the idea of Christianity even before fully understanding what it is.

That’s a challenge to overcome, and it begins with defying the stereotypes. We want to be heralds of invitation rather than coercion, conversationalists who talk about eternal truth and explore its implications. Whether we are imploring people to be reconciled to God, as Paul did (2 Corinthians 5:20), or showing other hungry beggars where we found bread, as D. T. Niles famously said, we have no reason to be intimidated into silence. Jesus warmly invited all to feast at the Father’s table. We are called to do the same.

{Jesus, there had to have been something extremely appealing about your nature, even when your words were polarizing, to draw so many to you. Conform me to that nature. May many come with me to your feast. Amen.