‘See How They Love Each Other’ – Our Public Witness

Over the past few years, as I’ve attended our various national and district conventions, one of the joys that I’ve experienced has been interacting with folks from outside our church who are serving us through their vocation. For example, at some of our conventions, we’ve had people helping us with venue facilities such as audiovisual equipment, providing food, or even first aid.

I’ve often wondered what they make of this bunch of folks, us Lutherans, as we gather together to achieve what must look like a series of mysterious tasks to an outsider.

Sometimes that’s the question that I’ve opened a conversation with: “So, what do you make of all this?”

I think it’s helpful to keep in mind that we Christians are always giving a public witness. We talk about the divine service, worship, being a ‘public’ service of the church. Our conventions, while predominantly attended by us Lutherans, do have visitors from outside – and in that sense have a public aspect also.

And given God’s passion, priority, concern, and love for the ‘outsider,’ the ‘stranger,’ the ‘foreigner,’ what opportunity might we have to serve them – and what gift might they bring to us?

God’s Love for the Outsider

The Bible is indeed full of verses that speak to God’s love and concern for the outsider. For instance, Leviticus 19:34 says, “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” This commandment highlights the importance of welcoming and loving those who are not part of our immediate community. Here’s another scriptural thought: Hebrews 13:2 encourages us in our Christian vocation of hospitality. “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Wow!

An Opportunity for Mission

At our recent Vic Tas District convention, a friend of mine had a series of delightful conversations with someone visiting. It developed into an opportunity to share the basics of the Lutheran Christian tradition. My friend shared about ‘grace’ and the fact that we are people of grace because of the grace brought into this world through God’s love in Jesus. This was the key insight that seemed to strike home for the person my friend was talking to. They were impressed by the idea that before we were even thinking about God, God was coming towards us, and in Jesus, God has already done everything possible to make things right between us and himself. This thought was truly revolutionary to them. So revolutionary that the conversation continued to extend across the weekend – in short bursts! As my friend said goodbye, the person asked for the location of the nearest Lutheran church to them. This means they might have visited your church, or be planning to! Look out for them, please. God bless you and give you joy as you meet the strangers, the angels that God sends you – and as you engage in conversations about Jesus.

Love in Action

Our faith calls us to demonstrate love in practical ways. Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” What a privilege to let folks know that we are disciples by extending love beyond our immediate circle and reaching out to those who might not yet know Christ. By showing genuine hospitality and care, we can create opportunities for meaningful conversations and share the transformative message of the Gospel.

Tertullian’s Witness

Tertullian, an early Christian writer, famously noted the profound impact of Christian behaviour on pagan observers. He recorded how outsiders to the faith would sometimes exclaim, “See how they love one another!” when reflecting on Christians. Tertullian highlighted that this love, evident in selfless care for one another, was a powerful testimony to faith in Jesus and stood in stark contrast to the surrounding culture. This striking difference drew non-Christians to explore the Christian faith.

So, may I encourage us to keep this in mind as we attend conventions and other gatherings held by our church. God is gifting us with opportunities to display his love, so that his Spirit might invite curiosity and spark interest in the message about his Son.

I know that I am guilty of not always keeping this in mind. My prayer is that we all might grow in our awareness of every opportunity to display the love of Jesus by how we speak, and how we act towards each other – and towards the ‘stranger’ in our midst.

Some Next Steps

Here are some suggestions for how we can continue to embody Christ’s love and welcome outsiders:

1. Be Open and Approachable: Make an effort to engage with visitors at church events. A simple conversation can make a huge difference.
2. Offer Practical Help: Look for ways to serve those who are new to your community, who look disoriented or uncomfortable. Help them settle in, provide information, or simply offer a friendly face and a warm ‘gday’.
3. Share Your Faith: Be ready to share the message of God’s grace and love with those who are curious or seeking.
4. Pray for Opportunities: Ask God to open doors for you to connect with and minister to those outside your usual circle.
5. Follow Up: If someone shows interest in your faith or church, take the time to follow up with them and continue the conversation.