Elephant in the Room — The Dysfunction in Our Churches - Tuesday
Today’s Verse
John 13:34-35
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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)
Jon Weece continued the Elephant In The Room teaching series on Sunday with a message about the church. Here’s some breaking news: there’s no perfect church. You won’t find one anywhere. Although Heaven knows, we try. I’ve been in ministry well over three decades and had to learn early on not to take it personally when people chose to leave churches where I was on the ministry staff at the time. The reasons people gave for leaving often involved things like preferring that preacher over this one, or a more robust student ministry, or better quality music, etc., at least in their opinion. The truth is, we can become consumeristic when “church shopping.” And I get it. I’ve had to ask myself over the years, “Would I attend this church if I weren’t employed here?” (The answer is yes, by the way!) But having people walk away from church to attend another one they preferred was deeply personal because it often meant that our relationships were at best redefined, and at worst ended.
Jon reminded us on Sunday that several attributes of Jesus clearly show us what was intended for the church. The first is that Jesus was relational. So when the church is functioning at a high relational level, it’s reflecting Jesus. Admittedly, cultivating relationships in the church is one of the more challenging aspects of church life. That’s because all of us have to interact with each other in highly human and therefore imperfect ways. But learning to love and accept each other, faults and all, is one of the intentional ways God chooses to teach us about mercy and grace—the kind of mercy and grace that Jesus offered to anyone He came in contact with. As Jon said, “Jesus loved people and people loved Him!” People were drawn to Jesus because He spoke to their hearts, was compassionate, and more often than not, let others start the conversation rather than always being the first to speak. And when He did speak, it was always truth offered with grace. The more we put into practice Jesus’ way of relating, the stronger the church will be.
APPLICATION
Admittedly, being in relationships involves some risk. Is the risk of being let down or hurt keeping you from engaging others? Jesus was often let down by others as well, but He stayed firmly committed to loving people. How might you trust Him, and His example, to draw you closer to others?
PRAYER
Lord, give me a heart like Your Son’s. A heart that is not afraid to give myself to others, and to receive others as they are. Teach me how to offer love the way You’ve so freely offered it to me.
