Many of us who are married enjoy fond memories of first meeting our spouse, spending time together, growing to know each other more, and being knocked off our feet with the overwhelming sensation of a particularly new feeling: one of enjoyment, of happiness, of intrigue, of longing, and of excitement. At some point, we were faced with a decision: is he/she the one? And we pledged ourselves to that decision with the words “I will,” and “I do.”
That’s where most of the Hollywood movies end. But those words are much more of a beginning! And with great purpose, our commitment is proclaimed “for better or for worse.” Now take that same depth of affection and same weight of commitment for a beloved spouse, and consider its place in your life for your church.
Do you love your church??
Jesus loves the church! “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25)! We learn much about marriage in that verse, but also much about Jesus, and much about the church!
Endeavoring to encapsulate the Scriptural commitments of being Jesus’ followers, the church covenant that our members sign states, “we do now solemnly and joyfully covenant with each other to walk together in Him with brotherly love, to His glory as our Lord.”
We may not exchange rings or a ceremonial kiss, but, in becoming church members, we have made a deep commitment of love toward one another!
Though not “till death do us part,” as God will at times uproot us to different areas, and there may be biblical reasons to leave a church, we ought to take more seriously the commitment – that vow, or covenant – that we have made to one another.
Don’t blame the church covenant, by the way – our church covenant expresses what it means biblically to unite as church members just like wedding vows are to express what it means biblically to unite in marriage!
So I ask again, do you love your church? We’ve even distorted that word “love” in our culture; for instance: I love pizza… but not today…
Love is primarily a commitment: one that sacrifices and invests for the good of the other. Get a good glimpse of Ephesians 4:1-16 and you will see that a thriving church is the result of members who build one another up. That doesn’t happen casually or by accident!
We cannot forget that love is also a feeling. Being the church together can be quite difficult if we’re just putting up with a bunch of people we don’t like! But wait! Don’t just look for the next good feeling in new relationships somewhere, until those get hard, too. Do the hard work, for better or for worse, not just of enduring people but working to enjoy those people – sinners as they are (like me and you) – but uniquely designed by God, and placed in your church for a purpose!
That means that love is also an action. Commitments are conceptual and feelings are nice, but love is a verb, and it is demonstrated by what we do.
Finally, love is a pursuit. It sees the value of others in the church and invests in them! It is a giving of yourself (like Jesus!) for a purpose that is beyond one person’s goals or dreams. God has a plan, and He is building His church! Our investment will not return empty, but God will give the increase.
Church members… Christians… love the church! Give yourself for the church, just as Jesus loved the church and gave Himself for her! May we truly covenant with each other – solemnly, and joyfully – to walk together in Him, with brotherly love, to His glory as our Lord!