You're not alone
How important is a prevailing attitude of Christlike love to the health of a congregation?
It is everything, that’s how important.
I was reminded of this today while reading from I Corinthians 13 in the One-Year Bible. The Apostle Paul’s words in this 13-verse 13th chapter are unmistakable in meaning.
Paul lists five dramatic demonstrations of religious belief that many believers would cite as “slam-dunk” proof of Christian faithfulness, yet apparently do not indicate the core nature of the heart.
I have to tell you that this is a very potent revelation.
Consider the troubling fact that Paul said one can have the following five abilities and still not have the love of Christ in his or her heart:
- “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels”
- “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge”
- “If I have a faith that can move mountains”
- “If I give all I possess to the poor”
- “(If I) surrender my body to the flames”
Without a humble, serving love in one’s heart for other people, people who can do the above are — according to Paul — resounding gongs, clanging cymbols who amount to nothing of Kingdom value and gain nothing from their efforts.
Wow!
Like you, I’ve met people who seemingly feel very good about themselves because of their practicing one or more of the above abilities. Yet my inner being did not feel at peace about the measure of love that person felt toward me.
Actually, I had the sense that I was seen as less important, less blessed, less “favored” because I wasn’t doing what they were.
I certainly pray that others have not seen such an attitude in me.
It would be terribly unfaithful on my part for others to see abilities for ministry demonstrated by me and then wonder if I had love in my heart toward them. For such would not be a good testimony of Christ’s place in my heart.
Paul wrote the 13 verses of I Corinthians 13 to a congregation wracked by strife. Some thought they were better than others because they could do ministry stuff that others couldn’t. And that vanity was showing up in how they treated each other.
It must have been sickening to Paul and even more sickening to the Lord.
It’s no surprise that Paul, demonstrating amazing self-control and patience and love, pointed them toward the pattern that was godly — striving to show an attitude toward others that “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (verse 7).
The most potent expression of worship at church is not the classy music or the polished sermon or the lovely platform arrangement or the nice carpet or the snazzy foyer or even the physical appearance of the worship team.
And it is certainly not the showy stuff up front that gets way too much attention from certain faith traditions tied to a worship-checklist mentality.
If there are wounded sheep in the flock and the leaders/members aren’t rushing to pour love into those who are hurting or confused, then it doesn’t matter how much emotionalism happens at the altar or how much profound oratory occurs at the pulpit or how much personal wealth is placed into the offering plate.
The congregation is still spiritually bankrupt at the core.
If you are a congregational leader, please focus on first things first.
Show love to all your members. Real love. Patient love. Forgiving love. Disrupt-your-evening-until-10:30 p.m. love.
And then guide your members into doing the same for others.
Considering the following two scenarios:
- a “plain Jane” worship service where members truly and graciously love each other, or…
- an elaborate worship service where members watch polished, spiritual performers but then don’t take the time to minister to one another
Which service do you think God would rather attend?
You get the point.
Please set your heart to share your love more actively, patiently, graciously and consistently with those in your congregation.
They need you to be as Christ to them.
And you need them to do the same for you.
As always, I love you
Martin
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