Tourists
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
There is an old line from the Elvis movie Blue Hawaii that has made me chuckle for years. Angela Lansbury’s character exclaims, “Tourists aren’t people… they’re tourists!” Of course, the humor comes from the way Americans are often portrayed as inhospitable.
Lately, I’ve found myself watching videos of people visiting the United States for the first time. With the World Cup underway, there has been a large influx of international visitors. Many arrive expecting a nation divided by political strife, filled with rude people and constant conflict in the streets. They have only known what they have seen on television, social media, or news reports in their own countries. Yet they leave talking about something entirely different.
They marvel at our national parks, the portions served in restaurants, and places like Buc-ee’s. Frankly, I still marvel at a gas station the size of a Walmart myself. Some have even given five-star reviews to Arby’s. They are genuinely impressed about unlimited drink refills, wonder why complete strangers hold doors open or strike up conversations while waiting in line, and some are even trying to take bottles of ranch dressing home in their suitcases. What changed?
Not America. Their experience. Someone simply welcomed them. As I watched these videos, I couldn’t help wondering if the Church has an opportunity to do something similar. Hospitality is apparently one of America’s most surprising characteristics. It should be one of Christianity’s as well.
Not everyone who walks through our doors is a lifelong believer. Some are simply… tourists. They are curious. They are cautious. They are carrying stories they have heard from other people. Some know Christianity only through history books. Some know it only through headlines. Others know it only through painful personal experiences. Maybe they only show up for Christmas and Easter.
History reminds us that Christians have not always reflected Christ as faithfully as we should have. We cannot rewrite the Crusades. We cannot erase times when churches became more interested in power than people. We cannot pretend that every person has always been treated with the love Christ commanded.
But that is not the whole story.
The same faith has inspired hospitals, orphanages, schools, missionaries, disaster relief, street ministry, prison ministries, food pantries, neighbors caring for neighbors, countless quiet acts of mercy known only to God, and the work you do every day.
The Church cannot rewrite its history, but in the present? We all have the opportunity to shape the future.
Jesus never invited people by saying, “Come after you’ve figured everything out.”
He simply said,
“Come and see.”
— John 1:39 (KJV)
That invitation still stands.
Sometimes it takes fresh eyes to appreciate something we have begun to take for granted. Visitors notice things Americans pass by every day. They remind us that what has become ordinary to us may still be remarkable to someone seeing it for the first time.
The same can happen in our walk with Christ.
Those of us who have heard the stories of Jesus for many years may forget how astonishing they truly are. We may hear about grace, forgiveness, prayer, mercy, salvation, and the love of God so often that the words become familiar. Familiar is not bad. Familiarity can be comforting. But if we are not careful, familiar can also become overlooked.
A newcomer may hear, “Come unto me,” and feel invited in a way we have forgotten to feel. A visitor may hear, “For God so loved the world,” and realize, perhaps for the first time, that this includes them. Someone who only came because a friend invited them, or because it was Christmas or Easter, may see Christ with fresh eyes.
And sometimes, their fresh eyes can help us see Him again too. Perhaps God occasionally sends newcomers not only so they can discover Christ, but so longtime believers can rediscover Him as well.
An Overlooked Man Named Naaman
As I’ve been rereading Scripture this year while helping Sister Cathy and all our ministers carry on Dr. Davy’s work, I’ve been reminded that the Bible still has surprises waiting for us.
Everyone knows Moses. Everyone knows David. Everyone knows Daniel. Yet this month I found myself thinking about a man who almost missed his miracle entirely. His name was Naaman. (2 Kings 5:1- 19)
Naaman was not an Israelite. He was the captain of the Syrian army, a man of great authority and respect. By every worldly measure he was successful. Yet beneath all his accomplishments was a burden no wealth or military victory could remove. He had leprosy.
It was not a king or a prophet who first pointed him toward hope. It was a young servant girl whose name Scripture never even records. She simply told Naaman’s wife that there was a prophet in Israel who could help him. Naaman eventually traveled to Israel carrying letters from kings and enough wealth to reward the prophet generously. He expected a grand reception. Surely Elisha would come outside, call upon the name of the Lord, wave his hand dramatically over the disease, and perform a miracle worthy of such an important visitor?
Instead, Elisha never even came to the door. He sent a messenger with a simple instruction:
“Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.”
— 2 Kings 5:10 (KJV)
Naaman was offended.
“Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?”
— 2 Kings 5:12 (KJV)
The miracle almost passed him by because it arrived in such ordinary packaging. Thankfully, Naaman’s own servants gently reasoned with him. If the prophet had asked him to do something difficult, he would have gladly done it. Why not simply obey this small request? Naaman humbled himself, entered the Jordan River seven times, and God did exactly what He had promised.
Sometimes we are waiting for God to move through the spectacular while quietly overlooking the blessings He has already placed before us.
Experiencing Christ
I wonder how many people approach Christianity the same way. They arrive expecting arguments, politics, and rejection.
What if they found something different? What if they found people willing to listen, a table with an empty chair waiting for them, a congregation that welcomed before it criticized, a meal shared, a prayer offered, and a helping hand without conditions attached? Sometimes the best way to change someone’s expectations isn’t to argue with them.
It’s to hand them a full plate and let the experience speak for itself. Isn’t that remarkably close to the way Jesus ministered? Again and again, He welcomed people before He corrected them. He ate with people before He preached to them. He fed hungry crowds before asking them to understand who He was. He met people where they were and invited them to come closer.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
— Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
Every visitor deserves the chance to experience Christ for themselves, not merely through someone else’s opinion. Just as those visitors discovered an America they never expected, may those who visit our churches discover a Christ they never expected. When people leave our churches, our homes, and our tables, may they leave saying, “That wasn’t what I expected.”
May they discover not simply a religion, but the living love of Christ.
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
— John 13:35 (KJV)
May we never lose the wonder of seeing Christ through fresh eyes, nor miss the opportunity to help someone else discover Him for the first time!
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank Thee for every person who welcomed us when we first began our own journey of faith. Thank Thee for those who patiently answered our questions, shared their tables with us, prayed for us, and reflected the love of Christ through simple acts of kindness.
Help us to remember that every person who enters our church is someone whom Thou dost love. Give us hearts that welcome before they judge, ears that listen before they speak, and hands that are ready to serve before seeking recognition.
Teach us not to overlook the quiet ways in which Thou art working. Keep us from missing Thy blessings because they arrive in ordinary moments or through ordinary people.
May our churches become places where strangers become friends, where the weary find rest, where the curious are encouraged to “come and see,” and where the love of Christ is experienced as clearly as it is preached.
When others meet us, may they see not merely our opinions or our traditions, but the kindness, humility, and grace of our Savior.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
Yours In Christ,
Kelly Kendrick Sister Cathy
Kelly Kendrick Dr. Cathy J. Kendrick
Treasurer Bishop Of the Church
First Church of The Gospel Ministry