“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” (John 13:34:35 NLT)
Some of my deepest hurt and most long-lasting pain has been inflicted by fellow believers. And the frightening thing to me is, it’s not that uncommon in the Body of Christ, but why? A couple possible scenarios come to mind.
First, could we be so focused on the lost we lose sight of how important it is to treat our fellow believers with respect and dignity? A similar thing can happen in our literal families. We can get so engrossed in our service to people we hardly know, we lose sight of those in our families that are needing our attention and “ministry”.
It’s a common phenomenon in Pastoral ministry, especially in small churches. Constituents see the Pastor as their personal “concierge” believing the Pastor should be at their beck and call any hour of the day or night. And the tragedy is, many Pastors of small churches fall prey to their selfish demands, as I did, believing it is our sacred duty to “serve the flock.” It saddens me because it took me so long to learn how to deal with that.
But secondly, in the Body of Christ it seems we feel we’re in competition with our fellow believers, that if they get recognition, so should we; after all, “Isn’t our service to Christ just as important as theirs?” It’s a sad commentary on our understanding of Biblical Truth. Jesus said clearly in the above verse that the way He loves us is our goal and ambition in loving others, not our comparative performance.
As a Pastor I loved to recognize the hard work and effective service of those in my congregation, but it was always at the risk of alienating someone who might feel that slighted. It was never my intention, but it seemed to always be an issue. But I’m also reminded of the effect our “hurt feelings” have, not only on others in our own congregations, but on those who are watching from a distance.
Phil Wing reminds us that “Loving other Christians is one of the most missional and evangelistic things a Christian can do.” We often lose sight of who might be watching, not only our individual lives, but the corporate lives of our church. The first congregation I served as a Senior Pastor was surrounded by homes in a small neighborhood in Kentucky.
As I knocked on door after door of my neighbors it was revealing how much they knew about the church and of our “comings and goings”, some accurate, some not so much. Unfortunately, people outside the church are often looking for excuses to stay away and the slightest morsel of gossip they can stir up regarding conflict among the “saints”, is fuel for their “fire”.
The truth is, loving one another well begins as we humble ourselves before the Lord, seeking His strength, courage, wisdom, and guidance in loving others like He loves us – unconditionally, openly, freely, with grace, wisdom, and understanding. He doesn’t judge us at the first sign of misunderstanding, but guides, informs, equips, and walks with us as we live out the implications of whatever issue it is.
The more we personally seek to live and walk in the likeness of our Savior, the easier it will be to love like Him. And the better job we do at loving others in the Body of Christ, the more effective will be our witness to those who are watching from the proverbial “fringes”.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 