A Muslim couple recently started attending our church gatherings. Some of our members met them while out evangelizing, and the couple wanted to learn more about Christianity. They haven’t missed a service since and appear serious about seeking Jesus—praise God!
Their presence amongst us has been a real joy but also has prompted me to ask myself some questions: How much should we expect non-Christians to understand about our church services? To what extent should we address and acknowledge them when leading, preaching, and praying?
Thankfully, I’m not alone. Pastors have grappled with these questions for many years, yet not all have agreed on how to answer them. Some pastors focus on attracting non-Christians and tailor everything in the gathering toward seekers. On the other extreme is the tendency to be ambivalent toward non-Christians, never even acknowledging their existence.
The key to staying on the horse is to find the right kind of balance between these two approaches. The primary goal of our gatherings should be to edify the saints through the Word. And yet, we should also regularly speak to the non-Christians in our midst. If we commit to this, then
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