Call Everyone Home

Everyone is talking about the ‘so-called’ convert surge in the Church. First of all, only time will tell if and how many ‘converts’ actually remain in the Church, as the American custom is more like Christian nomads, wandering from Church to Church. Besides that! Scriptures show many more faithful entering the Church in a single day than the numbers entering the Church today.

But, the convert surge isn’t really my point today. I begin there because historically God has always ‘made room’ for faithful to enter the Church. Consider today’s lesson from Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Brethren, do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. But if it is by works, it is no longer on the basis of grace, otherwise work would no longer be work. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it sought. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that should not see and ears that should not hear, down to this very day.” And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs for ever.” So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean?

Romans 11.2-12

Here’s my point today. Saint Paul teaches that ‘if’ the sins of the Jews ended up as a blessing for Gentiles (that’s us), then “how much more will their inclusion mean?” Ok converts….Many ‘cradle’ Orthodox have stayed away from Church, making room for you, and you were blessed.

If we pay attention to what Saint Paul is saying, then we must work to bring the ‘cradle’ members of the Church ‘back’ so we can all be blessed even more than before. Sometimes I feel there is not enough gratitude, nor attention given, for those who ‘made room’ for others.

If we consider the ancient Jewish ‘hardness of heart’ as a blessing for the Gentiles, then we must consider the same about today’s cradle Orthodox. That doesn’t mean letting them remain outside the Church. It means we pray for, and work for, their return. We will all be blessed.

So, if you found your way into the Church, or are thankful for the current ‘convert surge’ then here’s my invitation to you. First, be thankful there was and is room for you. Then, pray and work for the return of those who have fallen away, no matter what the cause.

We can only be truly blessed when everyone has come into the Church, those who walked away, and those who ‘find’ the Church through God’s calling. Let’s get to work and call everyone home!