The song invites people to come to the table, all are welcome. Who they are, how they are. Welcome. That's how God accepts them. What if someone happens to hear that song, believes it, and goes to a church? Will they find that same grace and acceptance?
What if they aren't dressed the same as those in the church?
What if they have a disability?
What if they are of a different income or perceived standard?
What if they are of a different race, color, or culture?
What if they struggle to speak "our" language?
What if they are different in any way to what we perceive is "the way"?
According to God, all are welcome. God's grace extends to all people. If God is willing to be open and loving, then why are we cutting people off from the table? Why are we putting up walls, rules, boundaries where God did not and does not put them up?
My heart breaks when I am in a room full of Jesus-loving folks who have left the church because the church has betrayed them, hurt them, and/or is no longer a place where God came first and all were welcome at the table. This gathered body of Jesus followers was and is church, yet with no community because community wasn't living as Jesus instructed.
I understand.
I have seen it recently. And my heart breaks.
It doesn't matter what you wear. Come to the table.
It doesn't matter who you are or what you've been through or what you're going through now. Come to the table.
You are welcome to the table. God's table. You are loved.
I hope to live into loving God and loving others (as I love myself) as Jesus taught.
Jesus invited the disciples to breakfast on the beach, he fed folks on the hillside, and in the upper room. Jesus was about relationship with others around the table. These were teaching moments for the disciples and others.
As we look around our tables, who is missing? Why are they missing? Have we forgotten to invite someone to the table? Have we excluded someone who was previously at the table? Have we not made room at the table?
May we open ourselves up truly to God as we make our way to the table, seeking forgiveness and grace for those we've ignored, excluded, and turned away.
Then, let's make sure our tables, our churches, our lives are open to God to work in us and through us for the glory of God and the good of the kingdom.
Blessings on your journey,
Debra
Lyrics to "Come to the Table" by Sidewalk Prophets:
We all start on the outside
The outside looking in
This is where grace begins
We were hungry, we were thirsty
With nothing left to give
Oh the shape that we were in
Just when all hope seemed lost
Love opened the door for us
He said come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come meet this motley crew of misfits
These liars and these thiefs
There's no one unwelcome here
So that sin and shame that you brought with you
You can leave it at the door
Let mercy draw you near
Come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come to the table
To the thief and to the doubter
To the hero and the coward
To the prisoner and the soldier
To the young and to the older
All who hunger, all who thirst
All the last and all the first
All the paupers and the princes
All who fail you've been forgiven
All who dream and all who suffer
All who loved and lost another
All the chained and all the free
All who follow, all who lead
Anyone who's been let down
All the lost you have been found
All who have been labeled right or wrong
To everyone who hears this song
Ooh
Come to the table
Come join the sinners you have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Oooh
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come to the table
Just sit down and rest a while
Just sit down and rest a while
Come to the table
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