This is a real church sign outside a church in Springfield, MO. It sounds really good. Everyone welcome – including you, no matter what you believe. We welcome everyone the same; with open arms. Come sinners – one and all. You will find loving, kind, people here. We welcome you. You don’t have to change and we will never judge or condemn you. You are Welcome.
So an Islamist extremist comes to visit this church and he puts a sword to your throat and says convert to Islam or he’ll kill you, will you really welcome him? Or what about the white supremacist? Are you really going to welcome him when he starts beating you up because you are a different nationality than he is? Are you really going to welcome him with open arms?
Or what if I visit your church just as I am – a Bible believing Christian who believes that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died on the cross for guilty sinners, was buried and on the third day He rose from the grave. Now He commands all people everywhere to repent and put their faith in Him. What if I come to your church and tell you that all the sexually immoral people that you welcome with open arms are damned and on the road to Hell unless they repent and believe the Gospel? What if I tell you that your welcome policy is only ushering people on the fast track to Hell and that you are merely making them feel good about their journey? Will you really welcome me with open arms?
The worst part is that Satan pretends to be an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He does some of his worst damage by getting church going people to believe that they are all right – that they are good people and that God is love, so He will accept them just the way they are – without expecting them to change. Unfortunately they have this backwards. It’s actually Satan that accepts you the way that you are and he does NOT want you to change. This church that is trying to be all inclusive is really just a blind guide leading people on the broad road to Hell (Matthew 7:13-14). And they are lovingly, coddling people all the way there as they are heading there themselves. They think that they are being very welcoming, but they are really saying welcome to the broad way to Hell.
I’m sorry if this post sounds harsh, but the truth as found in the Bible leaves no other way to God (Acts 4:12). Nowhere in the Bible does it say to tell people just continue on the path you are on because God loves you. The Bible teaches us that anyone who does not repent and put their trust in Jesus will be damned to Hell for all of eternity (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). We may think this is harsh, but we are not the Holy God who created us and the universe. Perfection, Holiness and righteousness do not course through our veins.
We are sinful creatures who need a Savior to get back in a right relationship with God (Ephesians 2:1-3). There’s nothing we can do on our own to do that. If we die in our sins, then on Judgment Day we will be sentenced to Hell for ever and ever (Jude 1:7). No matter how loving we think we are or how tolerant we are of other beliefs, we will go to Hell and lead others there too, if Jesus Christ is not our Lord and Savior.
The most loving thing you can do is warn people to flee from the wrath to come. So I’m warning you: Flee From the Wrath to Come! The Bible says do not be deceived (2 Timothy 3:13). Turn away from your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 26:18, 20). You may not want to hear this, but it is the truth and it is the most loving thing that I can say to you. To welcome you with open arms and tell you that Jesus loves you just the way you are and that He’ll never ask you to change, is a bold faced lie. It may make you feel all warm and fuzzy now, but it won’t help you one bit while you burn in Hell for all of eternity – if you die in your sins. God tells us to be holy because He is Holy.
Run from churches like the one mentioned above that welcomes you all the way to Hell. The broad way to Hell is no welcome at all. It’s really a welcome to everlasting damnation and torture. Flee from the wrath to come and flee from false teachers (1 Timothy 4:1). You want to know the truth? Then read the Bible for yourself. Start with the book of John, then go back and read the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament. You will not find it stated anywhere in the Bible to be all inclusive and tolerant. Jesus is very exclusive and He is very divisive (John 14:6, Matthew 10:35-36). He said that He came to bring a sword (the Word of God – the Bible) that would tear families apart (Matthew 10:34). Be one of the few (Matthew 7:14).