It seems that some of us believe a group of non-believers walking (storming) into a Minnesota church during a worship service is ‘persecution’. It’s really not. It’s the result of decades of outreach marketing.

For years we’ve begged the world to show up. “Come and see.” “All are welcome.” “Bring your questions.” We put it on websites. We paid for the Facebook ads. Then someone actually comes and we claim we’re being harassed.

Personally, I’m not a fan of guest-centered church culture. I don’t think Sunday morning should be focused on trying to impress non-believers. But if you’re going to advertise that ‘Everybody Belongs Here’ then stop whining about unruly visitors.

Historically speaking, disrupting the order of worship didn’t count as persecution. Christians didn’t claim to be suffering for the faith unless they were flogged, imprisoned, fed to animals, set on fire, or something like that. Loaded questions from smirking activists weren’t important enough to even mention.

So, congratulations on a successful Guest Sunday! What are you complaining about?

“John, you jerk! Those people were hostile! They weren’t seeking the truth! They only wanted to disrupt!”

Yeah. People who don’t know the truth are often hostile and disruptive. Apparently, you expect pagans to behave like those of us indwelled by the Holy Spirit. You expect these people to act like children of light while their hearts are trapped in darkness.

You invited pagans and thought saints would show up. You said “come as you are” without the faintest idea about ‘how they are.’ Surprise! If you invite people who don’t believe what you believe, you will get people who don’t act like you act.

God is generous. He’s answering your prayers. Lost people are literally coming though the church’s front door, just like you wanted! What an opportunity!

It seems that evangelism doesn’t follow the order of worship as printed in the bulletin. If you don’t want pagans disrupting your church service, stop inviting them to ‘check you out on Sunday.’

(1 Corinthians 2:14) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.