Love Practically

Love, Practically:

The word “love” gets tossed around in American culture like nobody’s business. We love restaurants, shoes, LEGO, movies, vehicles, houses, poetry, flowers, haircuts… and all with the same level of affection and disposability with which we “love” people.

When our favorite restaurant stops serving our favorite dish - we simply “love” another place. When our spouse gains weight or become permanently disabled - we simply “love” someone else. When our church home “feels” right with our favorite music, warm-fuzzy (and not overly demanding) sermons, and lots of freebies (donuts, coffee, etc.) we “love” it. Yet heaven forbid that “other guy” preach or sing, and when they switch from Dunkin’ Donuts coffee to Maxwell House… well, that is a clear case of what Romans 8:14 is talking about: That’s obviously the Holy Spirit telling us it is time to move over to that new church in the neighborhood.

In Ephesians chapter 4, Paul is talking about the unity/maturity of the Body of Christ, i.e. the Church. In vv. 11-13 we read, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastor-teachers, to equip his people for works of service, SO THAT the body of Christ may be built up UNTIL we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

The purpose/goal of the local church and its leadership is not new building campaigns, acquiring mega-church status, filling the pews, gaining national acclaim, being the world’s morality police, etc. The purpose/goal is to share the gospel with the world (evangelism), and “to equip his people for works of service, SO THAT the body of Christ may be built up UNTIL we reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God…” The goal and purpose of the Church and it’s leadership is and ever expanding sphere of influence (light in a lost and broken world) and unity in Christ.

Somewhere along the line we’ve lost sight of that. Somewhere along the line we turned church into entertaining sermon illustrations, polished productions, a Sunday event, a show to be taken in and consumed, to be passively critiqued by the masses who are paying (or withholding) admission based on performance! It stopped being about evangelism, service, transformation, and unity. Somewhere it turned into a Hollywood production… More lighting, better sound, professional musicians, softer chairs, interior decorators, manicured landscapes, golf cart rides to the front door, complimentary snacks at intermission… It’s all about consumption and comfort. It's all about me, my, mine, I, I, I.

Those are the very people whom Jesus had no problem telling, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head,” or elsewhere, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.” Sadly, many church Senior Pastors and prominent church leaders chase after the “BIG GIVERS” rather than the lost sheep, which is exactly what Jesus refused to do. “But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew the nature of all people.” In doing so we sell the gospel out for thirty pieces of silver.

Sadly, in many churches today it’s not about sharing the gospel with a dying world. It's not about feeding the sheep of God’s flock. It’s not about dying to self, picking up one’s cross and following hard after Christ - the same Christ who “loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph 5:25). Sadly, many of today’s churches are virtually indistinguishable from Robbins, Chopra, Gladwell, or Covey self-help seminars. Self-help is contrary to selfless.

In 1 John 4:20 we read, “Suppose someone claims to love God but hates a brother or sister. They are a liar. If they cannot love their brother or sister, whom they have seen then they can’t love God, whom they haven’t seen.”

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So here’s the BIG QUESTION: “How are you serving the Body of Christ each week?” The Body of Christ is not a foundation or political group you give money to. Jesus’ Bride is not the local dog shelter or pregnancy center. All of those can/might be good things, but they are no substitute for your PRESENCE, your TIME, your TALENTS, and your TREASURE invested in the Body of Christ each and every week.

In John 13:35 John wrote to the Church and quoted Jesus about loving fellow believers, “If you love one another, everyone will know you are my disciples.” The one way that Jesus said the world would know that we are truly Christians is in our love of/for one another within the Body of Christ. But as we just read above in 1 John 4:20, love isn’t some flighty, nebulous, abstract, or intangible thing that exists beyond the realm of HERE AND NOW.

Practical love is expressed by consistently, faithfully, and steadfastly serving others. Not because they deserve it. Not because they’re wealthy. Not because they tip well. Not because they’ll return the favor. Not for any other reason than because that’s what Jesus did for us while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).

I’ve counseled my share of people over the past several years. I’ve seen marriages implode over infidelity and addictions. I’ve seen small groups dissolve and fracture over petty disputes. I know of whole churches that have split over the color of carpet, the wine vs. grape juice debate, and differences of opinion on doctrine. I’ve seen people leave the church and drag the names of good people through the mud over hurt feelings. I’ve never seen any of that happen with anyone who was determined to serve the Body of Christ week-in and week-out for no other reason than simple, thankless, draining, exhausting, seemingly futile, unrequited, unreciprocated (is that a word?) obedience to Jesus.

The fair-weather fans come and go with the change of carpet color, the band leader, the pianist, the lobby decor, the number of handicap spaces, the inconvenient change of service times… The endless list goes on-and-on-and-on. Then there is the faithful remnant of servants who neither needs nor desires a reminder, accolades, trophies, or on-stage ceremony; yet week after week they serve - quietly, consistently, faithfully, modestly, and virtually invisible to the consumer crowd. But to those who are hurting, those who have been broken, those who have come to the well tired and weary... To these, and by Christ our LORD, these servants are known, and that is more than sufficient.

That’s what it means to love practically.

When we come to the point of realizing we have absolutely nothing to offer God - nothing He needs, no skills, no riches, no talent - absolutely nothing, yet still He loves us; it is just then we begin to sneak a glimpse of what He had in store for us from the beginning.

What about you? Are you serving - and why?

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com