when church life gets messy
church-
it isn't a building,
it is people-a family of believers in Jesus
it is sometimes messy because people are messy
it is big, much bigger than we can wrap our minds around
if you have been part of or around a family with more than one child
you know that siblings don't always agree
there are differences in perspectives
there are differences in preferences
there are differences in priorities
what ties us together, what we share in common to make us the church
are the truths that:
we have all sinned and fallen short of God's standards
while we were still sinners Jesus died to reconcile us to Himself
Jesus died so that I (and you) might have life
we are supposed to live like Jesus lived
Jesus expects us to love one another as He loved us
a healthy believer
has a growing relationship with Jesus
keeps eternity in mind
knows and shares the good news of who Jesus is and who we are in Him
understands that unity does not equal cookie cutter lifestyles
realizes harmony requires different notes being sung or played
is more interested in serving than being served
would rather be wronged than disgrace the name of our Savior
Sometimes I dream about what the church would be if we focused on what we have in common, rather than nitpick about our differences.
I am not talking about compromising essential doctrines:
God is God. There are lots of gods, but there is no other big g God.
The Bible is His Word and it's truths are relevant today.
Jesus was born, lived, died and was raised from the dead.
He is our example for how God wants us to live.
Accepting Jesus as Savior means also accepting Him as Lord.
Jesus is the Truth, the Life and the only Way to a relationship with God.
It is no surprise that there are people who have absolutely no interest in the church. That there are people who are skeptical and downright antagonistic toward us. Who wants to be part of a family that is at one another's throats, is quick to talk bad about each other, throws dirty punches and seeks to cause division?
I wonder what our impact would be on those who do not know Jesus if we talked to God about each other when there are differences rather than talk to others about those whom we have a difference of opinion with.
Love.
That is what all people are hungry for.
That is how we show people we are His.
Love covered and continues to cover my messiness.
Love heals and cleans up all messes.
it isn't a building,
it is people-a family of believers in Jesus
it is sometimes messy because people are messy
it is big, much bigger than we can wrap our minds around
if you have been part of or around a family with more than one child
you know that siblings don't always agree
there are differences in perspectives
there are differences in preferences
there are differences in priorities
what ties us together, what we share in common to make us the church
are the truths that:
we have all sinned and fallen short of God's standards
while we were still sinners Jesus died to reconcile us to Himself
Jesus died so that I (and you) might have life
we are supposed to live like Jesus lived
Jesus expects us to love one another as He loved us
a healthy believer
has a growing relationship with Jesus
keeps eternity in mind
knows and shares the good news of who Jesus is and who we are in Him
understands that unity does not equal cookie cutter lifestyles
realizes harmony requires different notes being sung or played
is more interested in serving than being served
would rather be wronged than disgrace the name of our Savior
Sometimes I dream about what the church would be if we focused on what we have in common, rather than nitpick about our differences.
I am not talking about compromising essential doctrines:
God is God. There are lots of gods, but there is no other big g God.
The Bible is His Word and it's truths are relevant today.
Jesus was born, lived, died and was raised from the dead.
He is our example for how God wants us to live.
Accepting Jesus as Savior means also accepting Him as Lord.
Jesus is the Truth, the Life and the only Way to a relationship with God.
It is no surprise that there are people who have absolutely no interest in the church. That there are people who are skeptical and downright antagonistic toward us. Who wants to be part of a family that is at one another's throats, is quick to talk bad about each other, throws dirty punches and seeks to cause division?
I wonder what our impact would be on those who do not know Jesus if we talked to God about each other when there are differences rather than talk to others about those whom we have a difference of opinion with.
That is what all people are hungry for.
That is how we show people we are His.
Love covered and continues to cover my messiness.
Love heals and cleans up all messes.
" 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.” John 13:34-35
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." I Corinthians 13:1-7
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them...Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:9&10, 15-21
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