Is the Church gathering ONLY, EXCLUSIVELY for believers?

This is a question sent in by Drew on the “Ask Aaron Anything” link:

In my adventures here in Las Vegas, recently I’ve ran into a guy at a well doctrined church who is well educated and desires to preach The Gospel purely for what it is. Yet he believes entirely that the church is ONLY, EXCLUSIVELY for believers. it is NOT a place for conversion. That unbelievers are not welcome. The Church is a barracks for training Christians and we are to evangelize and people are to come to the Lord solely by reading the Bible, evangelism, and God doing a work in thier heart. I COULD NOT disagree more. However, my problem is I don’t have any scripture to back my point. I really want to talk to the guy, open the scriptures and show him how that’s not right. But is that in the “open hand”? so to speak? Or is that a “close handed” issue that is not open for churches to do differently? Personally as I said I couldn’t disagree more, how are people supposed to come to know God, hear his Word, see how real he is and know him in a powerful way without being around his people and start doing life with them?

My Answer:

Drew, I do think methodology is an open handed position so in a discussion with this guy I would not be super strong handed but very unifying.  Let me give you some scripture to think through and use in your discussion.

1 Cor. 14:23 -  25 – 23.If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24.But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25.the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

Paul is giving instruction to the church of Corinth as they gather so that unbelievers will not be confused.  It is very important that in our gatherings to function in the gifts but they are in order so that outsiders understand and are not tripping out.   I think if you do not have unbelievers and you close it off to outsiders then you quickly  start loosing perspective on what you are doing.

He also says that if prophesy is spoken then the heart will be revealed and they will repent and worship God.  Sounds like outsiders were in the gathering and experienced God by the way they worshiped and functioned together.  I think outsiders should be allowed to see what happens as we gather and maybe be drawn to worship God.

Acts 2:42-47 – 42. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47. praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Many people in the early church were being saved everyday because they were seeing them gather in the temple and in homes. They were seeing their love for one another and the community being established and because of it they believed in God.  I also think it is reflectent of what Jesus said in John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” When people get to see how we relate to one another and worship God they will know who we belong to.  To close people out of the gathering does not make sense to me but I would also love to hear different perspectives, please make some comments.