The article “Excuse me? Certain tactics can make sure guests never come back to church” in the April 17 issue was highly provocative but fatally flawed. While it is true that each one of the listed tactics are sufficient cause to drive visitors away, the article failed to address the primary reason that visitors come to church in the first place, that is to be spiritually fed from God’s Word.
Regardless of how friendly and courteous the church members may be, no amount of assistance or graciousness will overcome an ill-prepared Sunday School lesson, a “canned” sermon from the pulpit or a pastor whose actions fail to reflect that he is a servant, not an overlord, to both the visitor and the church member. No visitor is favorably impressed by slipshod lesson preparation and self-involved pastors. Visitors, upon encountering such things, vote with their feet — they never come back.
Hence, it is crucial that every church member and Sunday School teacher make adequate spiritual preparation in order that visitors, in their capacity as spiritual “fruit inspectors,” see Christians whose actions reflect the “fruit of the Spirit” and pastors who are diligent students of the Bible and servants indeed.
Otherwise visitors will seek spiritual food elsewhere.
Jimmy Walker
Jasper, Ala.
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