The Loving Church

At a time when our society seems to be more disjointed and divided than ever, people are looking for a place to belong.

Jesus gives us insight into this important aspect of the Christian life when He talked with the Samaritan woman at the well:

A community where they feel safe . . .

A family they can belong to . . .

A place to genuinely love and be loved.

What they are looking for can be found in the church.

No, the church is not perfect, and we certainly have our flaws, however there is nothing like it in the world. It is the only organization Jesus ever started—and it is still going strong.

Nothing Prevails against It

History tells us that the emperor Diocletian set up a stone pillar on which was inscribed these words: "For Having Exterminated the Name 'Christian' from the Earth."

Needless to say, the emperor failed miserably in his attempt to eradicate that which Jesus established and maintains—His beloved church. Jesus Himself promised that, "the gates of hell will not prevail against it;" (Matthew 16:18).

Its Fellowship Is Unique

One of the distinguishing traits of the early church was its love for one another. They looked out for each another: "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart" (Acts 2:44–46).

The Greek word used in the original text is Koinonia. It can be translated as "fellowship, communion, distribution, contribution, partnership, and partakership." What the church did by having all things in common was implementing this principle. Though a communal situation was initially established, it was soon done away with. Still, the Koinonia principle behind it remains. It simply means that God's people take care of one another.

Believers Are Called Out and Called Together

We are called out.

God has a unique plan and place for His church in this world. Paul tells us in Romans that we as Christians are "The called of Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:6). What does this mean? The Greek word for Church is Ekklesia, which comes from the verb meaning "to call out." So, this verse means that God's people have essentially been called out of this world system that is hostile to God.

Jesus, speaking of His followers, said, "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world" (John 17:16). That does not mean that we are to isolate ourselves from this world, for Jesus also told us that we are to "let our lights so shine before men" (Matthew 5:16). We are simply not to love it: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15–17).

We are called together.

As God's people, we are not only "called out"; we are also called together. Remember, Acts 2:44 says, "all who believed were together."

• They worshipped and prayed together.
• They studied the Scriptures together.
• They ate together.
• They gave their tithes and offerings together.
• They shared the gospel together.

Compare this description with what we find among churchgoers in this age. The New Testament church knew nothing of the trend among many today, where people shop for a church as though they were looking for some supermarket. They embark on a quest to become more spiritual, wanting nothing to do with anyone else.

This problem arises when we think of ourselves as consumers instead of a congregation. The minute we feel a bit uncomfortable or challenged, we leave. Yet, part of my ministry as a pastor is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.

The Bible compares it and our involvement in it to being in a family. It also compares it to being a part of the body. A hand cannot exist without the rest of the body to support it. God has commanded each of us to be a functioning, vital part of the church: "Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:15).
Everybody has a part to play, a job to do, a need to serve.

The Church Should Be Charaterized By Love

Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). What does this type of love entail? Scripture gives us the answer.

The most comprehensive description of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. Paul shines love through a prism, and we see 15 of its colors and hues. Each ray gives a different facet of what is called agape love. The passage does not focus so much upon what love is, but upon what love does and does not do.

Agape love is active, not abstract or passive. It does not simply feel patient. It is patient! It practices patience. It does not simply have kind feelings. It does kind things.

Love is fully love only when it acts!

Scripture tells us, "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18). The purpose of Paul's prism in 1 Corinthians 13 is not to give a technical analysis of love, but to break it down into bite size pieces so that we may more easily understand it and apply it in a practical way.

There is only one person whose name could be substituted for love in these verses: Jesus. In essence, this passage is a portrait of the Savior. At the same time, the goal of the Christian is to be "conformed into the image of His Son . . . " (Romans 8:29). Thus, our goal should be to demonstrate this kind of love one to another.

Love is patient (v. 4)

The word patient literally means "long tempered." This word is common in the New Testament, and it is used almost exclusively in being patient with people (rather than circumstances or events).

Love-patience is the ability to be inconvenienced or taken advantage of by a person over and over again. Steven's last words were those of patient forgiveness: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them . . ."(Acts 7:60). As he lay dying, his concern was for the murderers rather than for himself.

This is the love that Jesus speaks of that "turns the other cheek." Its primary concern is for the welfare of others, not itself. Philippians 2:3–4 says:

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

How different this is from the secular thinking of our day, where everyone wants their rights. The slogan of the day is, "What about my needs?" We don't forgive anymore. We get revenge. We sue. The love we are to have for others is the direct opposite.

Love is kind...(v. 4)

Just as patience will take anything from others, kindness will give anything to others. To be kind means to be useful, serving and gracious. It is active goodwill. It not only feels generous; it is generous. It not only desires others' welfare; it works for it. God is our supreme model in this: "Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience? Not knowing that the kindness (goodness) of God leads you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4).

Love does not envy...(v.4)

This is the first of eight negative descriptions of what love is not. There are two kinds of jealousy:

1. We want what someone else has. If they have a better car, house, job, or even wife or husband, we secretly wish that we had the same.
2. We wish that someone else didn't have what they had. This is more than just selfishness; it is desiring evil for someone else. There will always be someone out there doing better than you. You can either live with it and be content with such things that you have, or you can be eaten up with jealousy. James 3:14–16 warns, "If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing."

Love does not parade itself. . .(v. 4)

In other words, love does not brag or parade its accomplishments. Bragging is the other side of jealousy. Jealousy is wanting what someone else has; bragging is trying to make others jealous of what we have. Love does not remind a person of the great sacrifice you have made for them.

Love does not behave rudely . . .(v. 5)

True love has its manners. That is something that is largely lost today. But love cares about others and is mannerly.

Love does not seek its own . . . (v. 5)

This speaks of that aspect of fallen nature where we always want to have our way. The world should revolve around us, we think.

Love is not provoked . . .(v. 5)

To provoke means "to arouse anger, a convulsion or sudden outburst." Love guards against being irritated, upset, or angered by things said or done against it. Ephesians 4:26 reminds us, "Don't let the sun go down on your wrath or anger."

This means that you do not take things into account. It comes from a bookkeeping term that means "to calculate; enter into a ledger a permanent record that can be consulted when needed."

Love believes all things . . . (v. 7)

In other words, love believes the best of every person. It is not suspicious or cynical. If a loved one is accused of something wrong, love will consider him or her innocent until proven guilty. You will stick up for them!

Love endures all things . . . (v. 7)

It refuses to give up, surrender, stop believing or hoping. Love will simply not stop loving.

May God help us to be loving Christians, and may this be a loving church. 

Part VII