I don’t even know if you belong to a church. So why would I write an article about loving your church? First of all, because I believe that every person should belong to a church, since it is through this unique community of faith that all people can find faith, friendship and a common desire to live their very best lives. If you read this and admit you are not presently a part of a church, my hope is that you would be willing to consider what it is you may be missing out on.
So whether you are presently a part of a church or have yet to find yourself in a church, I want to give you five reasons why you should love your church.
“I love my church because….”
#1 Jesus commanded me to love my church
Jesus told his disciples in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another (that’s the church) just as much as He loved them. Now, that’s a lot of love! We live in a culture right now where people think about church as an organization or a building, but the Bible spoke about the church as the assembled people of God. That is the church that we are called to love.
#2 It’s a witness to the world when I love my church
Immediately after giving His disciples this new commandment, Jesus makes this startling statement: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). The primary indicator that someone is a child of God, according to Jesus, is not vast knowledge of the Bible or great character and integrity (although those are undoubtedly important) but the degree to which we are seen showing Christ-like love to one another as the church.
#3 It’s filled with hypocrites who are aware of their hypocrisy
I’ve often been told that people don’t like the church because of all the hypocrites. Here is the truth of the matter… we are all hypocrites! Every human being, from every geographical location and point in history, has known the right thing to do (and perhaps counselled others to do those right things) and yet failed to do it themselves. The Church is not a gathering of people who think they are perfect; it is a gathering of people who know they are not perfect. The reason they are a part of the church is they know they need a Saviour to save them from themselves!
#4 It’s an imperfect family with a perfect Heavenly Father
No matter how much people love God and strive to be like Jesus, they will forever and continually fall short. That truth is so central to the Gospel. All of us fall short of the glorious standard of God (Romans 3:23). So why is it that we are surprised when we find so many imperfect people in the church? The best part of the church isn’t the perfect people, it’s the perfect God who we all gather to worship and celebrate! If the church was only filled with perfect people, the rest of us would never be welcomed at the table.
#5 My Church is not about my Church… it’s about Jesus
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.” While that is a sad reality, and something all Christians should strive to change, I would like to propose there is a silver lining to Gandhi’s statement. While we often do not accurately represent Christ as we should, does that not make our need for Christ that much greater? I have met many rude Canadians, yet I have still remained a proud Canadian. I have encountered several immoral business-owners, yet I continue to shop in their stores. I have seen flawed, broken and selfish people everywhere I have gone, yet I have never found someone so worthy to be worshipped as the one who bled and died on a cross for me. I love my church, because my church is not really about the people within it… it’s about Jesus!