Do they know you by your love?
Shortly before His death, Jesus said to His disciples,
“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
Notice that here the audience that Jesus was speaking to was His disciples. He was telling His disciples to love each other, “Just as I have loved you.”
Sometimes, we, as Christians, get so caught up in serving our communities and telling non-believers about Jesus that we neglect those who are in need within our church.
Don’t hear me say that we should not be serving our communities or telling non-believers about Jesus. Jesus also tells us to do that. We should be doing both, not just one or the other.
Part of what draws peoples’ attention to the church, causing them to become curious about Jesus, is when they see our love for each other. They see our community and say to themselves, “I want what they have.” Everyone wants to be loved and cared for during hard times in their lives. Everyone wants to feel like they belong somewhere. Everyone wants to be radically loved, accepted, and included, regardless of their flaws and troubles. Everyone wants someone to turn to when they are struggling and help when they need it.
So many people are lonely and craving community, not realizing that what they are craving is the radical love of Jesus. If they aren’t finding it in the church, where are they finding it?
Rosaria Butterfield, who “came out” as a Christian from living a loud & proud lesbian lifestyle, says this in reference to the LGBTQ+ community,
“That’s a community that is in each other’s lives, not just for or about sex. But for deep friendship and deep family. It functions as a family. The Christian community exists sometimes on what I like to call a starvation diet of community.”
Mark 10:28-30 emphasizes that many Christians give up a lot, sometimes everything, to follow Jesus. In response, Jesus reassures that, in return, they will receive “a hundred times as much” from the community they receive in return. Today we call this the Christian community.
Although Rosaria Butterfield highlights one community that people may lose for the sake of the gospel, it is not the only one. Some people leave other religions that penetrated every part of their lives. Some cultures will literally lose their biological family if they choose to follow Jesus. Some found their sense of belonging and family within gangs. Others left behind all their friends when they quit drinking or doing drugs. What do we have to offer these people in return? Do we offer a new family? A new community? New friends? Solid support?
Or do we rejoice that they are “saved” and leave them to work out their salvation on their own? Have we decided that they have Jesus now and that’s all they truly need? Or do we honor Jesus’ dying wish that we love each other (other Christians) as He loves us?
If someone in your church doesn’t have a family to spend holidays with, where do they go? If someone has worked hard to stay sober for 1 year, who do they celebrate with? If someone has hit rock bottom and is struggling with sin, where do they go for help? Who will support, encourage, and hold this person accountable? Do you treat your church family as you would your biological family?
It has been scientifically proven that a healthy community is a large part of the solution to addiction. That is why groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous work so well. They offer a sense of belonging, people who point you to God, accountability, a safe space to be honest and work out your problems, a new family, and people who accept you regardless of the mistakes you’ve made. Now, if a healthy community is the solution to addiction, and the root of addiction is sin…then couldn’t we safely say that a healthy Christian community is the solution to living in sin?
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
Seriously consider the challenging questions proposed here, thinking about what you personally are doing to foster community with fellow Christians as well as how well your church is doing in this area.
I would love to hear your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
Megan grew up in rural Wisconsin, where she was always known as the quiet girl with a book in her hands. Now Megan is working on her lifelong dream of becoming the author of her very own book. Out of her own struggle with trauma and mental health, she created the Jordan Crossings Blog to empower those who are healing from trauma and educate Christians on how to minister to those who are hurting.
