Without Love

I recently received a private email from a woman in the church. She lives out of state. I have never met her before. I came into contact with her through the email message. She had found the facebook group I had started entitled, "The Truth about the church of Christ."

She has been struggling with the church, because her expereince with the church has seemed dominated by ritualism, legalism, and apathy. It has been a long time since she has seen in her brethren the kind of love that Christ commanded (Jn. 13:34-35).

What does this usually lead to in an individual? Although they have been taught the truth, they often leave the church. Why? Because they cease to believe that the church is really what it claims to be. While I know that we are living in a world that is straying farther and farther from religious truth, embracing only the spiritual blessings and favors and casting off commandments and identities, I am afraid that we are hurting the cause of Christ when we defend the truth with the wrong attitude.

When Paul wrote about the seven ones (Eph. 4:4-6), he continued with the importance of coming to maturity. The meat in this sandwich is "one body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God and Father..." But the two peices of bread is, "endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace" (4:3), and "Speaking the truth in love..." (4:15).

We, as a people, need to work as hard as we can to show the kind of love Christ has shown for us. With every commandment, let their be care. With every law, let their be love. With every expectation, let there be encouragment. With every responsibility, let there be respect.

If we cease to have these things, we will indeed cease to be the kingdom Christ died to establish. And people will make a note of it.

May God help us to love one another.

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." ~ John 13:35