Invite all, encourage all, teach all // Matthew 22 // Book of Common Prayer

““The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’
But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’
And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:2-14 ESV)

When it comes to that old question, ‘Well, who should I invite to church, where do I start?’ The answer is: invite anyone and everyone. I the parable of the sower, the farmer doesn’t fret over where to place every individual seed. He broadcasts, sowing seed anywhere and everywhere so that some may take root, grow and thrive.

We see also from this parable that this ‘anyone and everyone’ approach to evangelism is taken, and that we don’t waste time trying to chase after the one person who makes excuses why they can’t come. Simply ask, ask and ask again. Keep offering the invitation as much and as often as you can.
We do not conduct background checks first, we do not evaluate how valuable they will be as volunteers nor do we evangelize based on socio-economic factors, what part of town they live in or whether or not they have a job or any addictions. We simply ask, invite and include.
Skin color, accent and clothing styles do not determine whether no not someone is worth our time. Married, single, divorced, widowed or estranged are welcome to join us as we worship. You cannot come up with one reason why you shouldn’t invite someone to meet Jesus.

But once you have, be sure to work with them ,disciple them, teach them what God would have them do. Run with the Word, guide them with Scripture, prayer and meditation. Teach them to rely on God so that when the Master returns, they are not found without their ‘wedding clothes’. Help to clothe them in Christ, teach them truth in love and guide them into fellowship with Him through baptism and faith.

This is how we GoLove, loving as we have first been loved and not discriminating about who gets to come and who doesn’t. No matter of pride, no human expectation can ever keep us from sharing the Good News of salvation with anyone and everyone that needs Him.

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