Few churches know how to offer adequate hospitality to a non-Christian visitor. Being nice, loving, warm, and friendly isn’t the same thing as being hospitable. For instance, does your church bulletin use any of the following words:

  • Invocation
  • Benediction
  • Doxology
  • Prayer Response
  • Pastoral Prayer
  • Hymn
  • Offering
  • Introit
  • Prelude
  • Postlude
  • or a host of others)

If so, then the bulletin isn’t pre-Christian ready because a pre-Christian doesn’t know these words.

Similarly, would they “get” the music? Just about the only place to hear an organ today is in a church. And would they know what to do with a hymnal? Only 9 percent of Americans can make heads or tails out of a musical staff.

Would the preacher explain what a Corinthian was, who Paul was, and what a New Testament is … every time any of these were brought up in a sermon?

Don’t forget, a non-Christian also doesn’t know how to behave in church, since they have no experience to fall back on. How would an average member respond if a non-Christian responded to the question, “How are you this morning?” with “F**kin’ awesome!” etc.? The word AWKWARD!!! jumps into my mind. Especially if the conversation was filled with such colorful language throughout. 

If you expect pre-Christians to find their way to your worship center – and if you’re hoping they’ll stay – then you’ll probably need to do some prep work.