Why Church ~ Look for the Love

Greetings Dear Reader, 

If you are kicking the tires of faith or the church, look for the love.  Look for how people treat each other.  I am not talking about the sugary southern surface love that can give you a diabetic coma from a single hug.  I am talking about the deep abiding love that can only come from the Father. 

When Jesus asked the Father to give us this love, he knew that we could build the church on it.  He understood that the very nature of God in him was to love and teach others how to love.  This love does not condemn people.  It cares for them, lifts them up, and restores them.  It gives them care and shelter.  

This is the kind of love that ignores social and political differences to care for human needs.  It is the kind of love that gives out of its resources so that the poor can be fed no matter where they come from.  This love realizes that its needs are met in seeking the welfare of others first.  

Others cannot hear me tell them that Jesus loves them if I do not show unreserved, unoffendable love with all that I am.  It is difficult and costly but can be honed into a habit.  I can become someone who loves first.  As my friend Tripp says, this is the answer to “What Would Jesus Do”; He would love first. 

The church is responsible to love first.  We can have discussions about doctrines, theologies, and practices all day long if we precede everything with love.  I believe increasingly that this is the narrow way of which Jesus spoke.  If a church is not practicing constant unoffendable love, it may not be the right place for anyone.  This has to be done through the people and not just the leadership.  We must put love into action if we are going to earn the right to be heard.  That, Dear Reader, is a primary why for the need for the church. 

Those who do not follow Christ should fear God’s condemnation for their sin.  They should never feel condemned by the others sinners who have found Jesus and follow him.  It is failing to show the love of Christ to everyone at every turn that makes others question the value of the church.  People can get rejected anywhere.  We need to individually and collectively be the beacon of hope that is lighted with the love of the Father given through the Son and powered by the Spirit.  We can build the rest on that and it will work. 

Wishing you joy in the journey, 

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) 

Every human story is part of the great story that leads to the Father getting everything back to Good. 

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I am not talking about the sugary southern surface love that can give you a diabetic coma from a single hug.