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“I never know what to say when friends from work won’t come to church because “it will burn down” when they walk into the building.”
What should you say in response? “Why do you think that?” Or, maybe, “You might be surprised by who you’ll meet in church and the stories they share.”
Normally, “the church will burn down” is a throwaway line used to deflect an unwanted invitation. But what if people really felt such conviction for their sin that they believed they were beyond the reach of God’s grace? It would provide a perfect opportunity to share the good news of the gospel. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says this: “God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus resolves the tension between justice and mercy by offering mercy to us and, at the same time, bearing the crushing weight of our sin—divine justice—on himself. The result of this exchange is explained in Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” What good news for all of us who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!