What God Says About Greeting Visitors.

 

James 2:1-3

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, “Sit thou here in a good place”; and say to the poor, “Stand thou there,” or, “Sit here under my footstool” 

4 Do ye not commit sin, and are convinced of the law, by respecting persons 

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

 

Greeting visitors is something we should all do in our church. As a Christian, we should strive to be friendly and kind in every way possible. How do we expect to win the lost if we first don't reach them with love and kindness?

In James 2, God gives us a tip when it comes to welcoming in visitors into our church.

1. Have no respect of persons.

Now, what exactly is respect of persons?

Here is an example:

Imagine it is a Sunday morning at your church and your talking to one of your friends when you notice a visitor. But this visitor comes in smiling and carrying a  Bible. He has a suit and tie on and is dressed his best. You would probably go over and shake his hand and welcome him to your church.

But next imagine the same scenario but instead of a well-kept visitor, imagine a scraggly bus kid that walks in and smells of weed. They don't have a Bible but instead a phone and a serious face. They are clothed in a hoodie and slides. And because of this, you don't talk to them and refuse your kindness.

That is having respect of persons. It is when you treat others differently based off of our judgement of them. It is a problem stemming from pride.

So in these verses, God is saying that we should greet visitors without respect of persons and be kind no matter the person that comes into our assembly.

Why? Because in verse 5, God can save everyone which includes the rough people that may walk through the doors of the Lords house. God is no respecter of persons. In his great love, he treats us all with the same wonderful mercy and grace. 

Acts 10:34  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

This principle clearly contradicts a Calvinists beliefs about God. In their false doctrine, God must favor "the elect" to go to heaven . But my Bible says that God is NO respecter of persons. He gives the gift of salvation to the whoever calls upon his name.

So today in your church, are you a respecter of persons? You may be if...

A. You gossip in church.

B. You only talk to your friends in church.

C. You don't greet visitors at all.

D. You only greet the visitors that look nice and well-kept.

E. You only visit with people in church that are your own age.

If you are found guilty of one of these like I have, then dedicate to God that you will take on the Godly trait of not being a respecter of persons.