Wal-Marts are a reality of life, whether or not we like them. They've even become a part of the attraction to rural church appointment, "I want a church near a Wal-Mart," has been heard before. Wal-Marts have a culture of their own. In some, there are convenient banks, hair salons, insurance agencies, or eye glasses centers. In all, there are greeters, with the blue vests, who are supposed to greet shoppers as they enter and in some cases, the greeters hand out specials or ads. They also have shopping carts to hand those who seek them. In some they even offer free coffee. I read once about a retired man who drove fifty miles past his Wal-Mart to the next Wal-Mart. When asked why, he replied that at the other Wal-Mart they greeted him and knew his name, and the coffee tasted better.
I don't know if the coffee really tasted better, but I do know when people greet you and make the effort to know your name, everything tastes better. And the culture of Wal-Mart may not be that different from that of our churches. Some drive past your church to get to the other church because the "coffee" tastes better, maybe because the people there know your name, greet you with a smile and show they are truly grateful that you are there. "Full service" at your church may mean those things and other things; greeters who really greet, ushers who really "ush" and go the extra mile. Some churches may not even have "service" because they're really a smallish club for members only, with a "secret" language with words such as "narthex," "Doxology," or even "Gloria Patri.". Shhh, not so loud, we have guests and if we're not careful, they may just learn these words! And they may want to actually join our club!
I don't know, maybe He was serious when He said, "I was a stranger, and you welcomed me."
