Love One Another

The church gets a bad rap. Too often she gets beat up, not just by non-Christians but by Christians too!

“The church is full of hypocrites. Oh they claim to believe it, but they don’t practice what they preach…”

“Church is out of touch. They don’t have a clue what is going on in the REAL world…”

“Church is boring. They don’t sing the songs I like, the preacher is too long-winded, everyone is off-key. Seriously…”

And often those criticisms are based in fact. All of us can be hypocritical. Sometimes we are out of touch with culture and the world. Sometimes church can be a little boring. Sometimes we sing off-key. Sure, those criticisms are sometimes based in fact.

But here’s my definition of church: Church is the perfect place for imperfect people. We believe in the God who was, is, and is to come, and he is at work on each of us making us what he means for us to be. As Christians, we are under construction. As the church, we are a place where people come to be built up. Sometimes we function as a hospital, working on those who need healing. Sometimes we function as a therapy session, helping those who are hurt and broken. Sometimes we are a family dinner, a place where joys are shared and accomplishments are rejoiced over.

Ultimately, the church makes the biggest impact when we love one another. The Christian community, when it is loving one another, makes a huge impact on the world. Look at Acts 2 and Acts 4: these are people who are making a difference! This is why Jesus tells his disciples to love one another. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). So church, get to loving! Check up on one another. Encourage one another. Say more than hello to someone as you leave. Love can change the world, and it starts here with us

Simple vs. Easy

Being a follower of Christ is simple, but it was never meant to be easy!

That statement might surprise you, shock you, discourage you, or anger you. But I wanted to let you in on Christ’s secret: it isn’t easy to be a follower of Christ. Honestly, it never was. In a conversation with his followers in John 6, Jesus’ message drives away the thousands who have been following him. Jesus tells his disciples that if they want to be first in the kingdom then they must be last and the servant of all. Jesus tells the rich man that the only way to be his follower is to sell everything and give it all to the poor. We are told to love our enemies, turn the other cheek, do not be angry, stop lusting… all countercultural ideas in both Jesus’ time and in ours. Jesus never tells his disciples it will be easy to follow him; indeed, he tells them it will be anything but!

It isn’t easy to be a follower of Christ. But it is rather simple. Simply put, if we want to become a true follower of Christ we must be willing to give up everything and put ourselves (and our desires) last for the sake of the Kingdom. Jesus tells his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26). In the Greco-Roman world, nothing was more shameful than a cross. The cross was reserved for thieves, terrorists, and enemies of the state. Crucified criminals were taunted and ridiculed by all who saw them. Thus, Jesus’ simple instructions to his disciples shouldn’t bring much joy. Jesus is calling his disciples to be so radically different from the world that they would be (at times) ridiculed, taunted, and even killed for their beliefs. It isn’t easy to be a Christian, but the idea sure is simple.

What does it mean for us to be simple Christians? What would it look like in our workplace, our classroom, our families? How would our lives be different if we decided each morning to take up our cross no matter what may happen? How would our world be different? What would change if we were willing to give it all up for the sake of the Kingdom? What would life be like if we decided to practice simple Christianity? Being a Christian is simple, but it sure isn’t easy.