The Greatest of These...Love
June 20th 2008 18:11
The church is a beautiful place, full of different colors, cultures, ethnic backgrounds, upbringings, gifts, talents, venues, marketplaces, etc. Therefore, this means that the church has a variety of different types of people within the walls and in spirit. When a person converts to Christianity or joins the body of Christ, a prayer of confession is said and the signing of a new discipleship/membership card is completed. After this has been done, there is often a lack of mentorship within the church to help these often begotten and downtrodden people transform into sons and daughters of GOD. I believe that once a person accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior, by praying the prayer of confession, there is a work that has begun within their spirit, thus, salvation. However, that person allowing Christ to be Lord, or head, or the general leader of their life is another thing. This my friend takes mentorship, discipleship, teaching and love from the other members of the body.
I have been to quite a few churches and church events, and some things never seize to amaze me. Often, the older, elder, "more spiritual" members and leaders of the church, portray ora of self-righteousness and pride when dealing with new members or converts. For example, a prostitute finally decides to attend church one Sunday morning and after hearing, the message decides to join. She feels that her life has totally changed after accepting Christ and joining the church. The following Sunday, she comes to church in a black, tight, miny skirt and halter top, with stiletto hills. Upon her arrival, members portray a cold and demeaning attitude towards her. No one dares to sincerely be kind and genuine in his or her treatment or love for her as his or her new sister in Christ.
People, this young woman figures, right then at that moment that this place called the CHURCH, is not that much different from the streets she just left from selling her body. She then leaves and never returns there or to any church.
This is a serious issue to me, many others and especially to the Lord. Once we are converted and given life eternal, it is our responsibility, actually, the basic, fundamental charge to the Church by Jesus himself... go into the entire world, preaching the gospel, compelling all men, be fishers of men. However, he does not stop there and neither are we. After we fish and catch souls for the kingdom and members of our body, we are suppose to implement and practice the two greatest commandants as taught by Jesus, "Love the Lord God with all of your heart, mind and spirit" and "Lord your neighbor as thyself". Jesus stated, that by doing this, we fulfill all of the rest of the commandments.
Our love for one another within the body, this includes the dirty, ignorant, unknowing, feeble, prideful, deceitful, ex-prostitutes, ex-everybody’s. We are a body and when the body is functioning correctly, if a part of it hurts, the whole body is affected, thus HURTS. We have a long way to go before becoming a church without a spot or blemish. Until we grow, how can the world look at us and know that we are Jesus’ disciples? The only way is that we truly love one another. A pure, undefiled, un-malicious, honest love. I will begin from this day forward showing this towards others.
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