Each Friday in The Christian Citizen, we publish a Religion News Roundup with summaries of religion news stories and links for those who want to read more.

I invite you to choose one day in the near future, and light a candle of hope, a candle of kindness, and a candle of love in whatever setting you find yourself. May God’s peace be the flame to your private or public testimonies.

Which is more important for a church, belief or welcome? Perhaps that is like asking which wing of the airplane is more important. They are both important, but in some ways, they are the same thing, for the extravagant welcome into God’s loving embrace is a church’s theology.

Everything in the Bible, from the giving of the law to admonitions about welcoming strangers, even — and especially — salvation itself, is a function of God’s hospitable nature. Moreover, the primary missional directive for those who have received God’s welcome is to extend it to others and make known the welcome of God.

Each Friday in The Christian Citizen, we publish a Religion News Roundup with summaries of religion news stories and links for those who want to read more.