I once had a manager ask,
“Do you feel greeted or do you feel welcomed when you walk into Wal-Mart?” I
thought it was a great question. It was a question he had asked to encourage
the employees to think about welcoming customers into our retail store, but it
made me think. What is the difference between being greeted and being welcomed?
I thought about it and
realized being greeted is more in the moment. It is a polite gesture that says,
“Good morning” or “We’re glad you’re here,” but it doesn’t go beyond that. Being
welcomed, however, is much more. It invites people in. It accepts them. People get
a sense that they will be genuinely loved and cared for. When I welcome people
I ask open ended questions that should ultimately lead to open ended
relationships. I want to get to know them. I want to learn more about who they
are. I ask things like, “What brings you in today?” I find out what they are in
search of. If I want to know how I can best serve someone I have to ask these
kinds of questions. I must be willing to take the time to hear their story. I also need to follow up with people. This isn’t a, “How
are you today?” “Fine thank you.” exchange. This is so much more.
I guess that is why I have
never been a fan of “greeters” at church. I know that seems so outrageous and
you are probably wondering without a welcoming committee how in the world would
people feel welcomed and new people know where to go? How would people get
information on where to check their children in or where the bathrooms are
located? Who would hold the door open for people as they came in and smile
politely saying words like “hello” and “welcome”? Do you have any idea who
might be able to do all of those things? I am going to suggest something crazy
for a moment. I am going to suggest the answer is God’s people.
That’s right! I said it. I
mean what would our churches be like if we move from greeters to welcomers?
What would our families be like? What would our neighborhoods be like? What
would our cities be like? What would our world be like? If we really understood
how deep and how wide God’s love is for each one of His people, wouldn’t we live
differently? Think about it for a moment. If Christ is in us and we are His
glory on display through the work of the Holy Spirit in and through us then I
ask, “Is our love deep and wide
enough for each person who should walk into a building?” What about the people
who live with us? Our children, our spouses, our roommates, our parents. What
about the people that live next door or drive the same route to work as we do? Shouldn’t
we move towards all people, both the lost and the found, and ask how we can
serve them? Or maybe we should leave that up to a handful of people who have
the gift of greeting and wear a lanyard. Or worse yet, leave it up to a handful
of people who don’t have the gift of greeting and wear a lanyard.
Is it just me or should we
not be the ones looking to open the doors of the church for one another? Should
we not be the ones looking for how we can serve one another? Should we not be
the ones looking to help parents and their children? Not just in checking into
classes in a building but helping them find their way through the often
overwhelming responsibility of parenting? Do we now need classes for such a
thing? Should it not start with dying to ourselves and laying down our lives for the sake of another as Christ did for us?
If we slow down and open
our eyes to the people around us could we be transformed from greeters to
welcomers? Maybe we could ask open ended questions and respond with love and
service. Maybe we could follow up with the people we are in contact with and
make sure they have everything they need. I believe we can all become welcomers
if we ask God to fill us with His love and His desires for His people. He chose
each and every one of us and invites us all to participate it the great work of
His Kingdom. All we have to do is say “yes” and we get the great privilege of
welcoming for His glory.
No, God did not call me to
be a greeter at Walmart. I have been welcomed and now being a greeter will not
satisfy.
“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you,
for the glory of God.” Romans 15:7
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