22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” -1 Corinthians 14:22-25
Do we make our gathering places inviting to those who may not come from a Christian background? Look at the Apostle Paul’s concern here. He was worried if the church had visitors and everyone is “speaking in tongues” they would scare away these visitors who might be interested in Christianity. Our fellowship groups or gatherings must always take into consideration how we can better help our visiting friends feel comfortable. We need create safe spaces for people to explore their faith at their own pace.
This is why the Harvesters House was so important to us. It’s a place where yes, we learned about Jesus, but we also where we played the Voting Game, Smash Bros, sing karaoke (this one’s for you Ryan), eat birthday cakes, and just hang out and have fun. We try to make it as comfortable as possible for people.
In your life, you will be involved in many different Christian communities. May all of them be open and welcoming to those who have questions about the faith.
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