Wrong Reasons to Love the Church

My mom said that I have to love my church where I grew up. But sometimes I didn't satisfied, I feel wrong. I gone to pentecost, charismatic and i feel the same. I passed away, almost.
But now I found the answer...
I think that crhistians need to know that...
Jesus bless...

I see this all the time. This is a very true article that many more should see

Great reminder on fundamentally WHY we should love the church.

Thanks for the reminder...I just started attending church and people/friends always ask *why* I love the church...I love your conclusion. Great post!

really good reminder as i am guilty of loving the church for some of those reasons.

I don't know if this where I should write this or not (I'm new to technology!). I listened to the sermon (from Jan17th) during the week via the computer because I didn't get a chance to hear you live. Just as you were beginning, my youngest had a violent nosebleed and we rushed out. Within 30 seconds there were two doctors, two paramedics, an EMT,a few concerned staff from the front desk, and a pastor. Talk about loving one another! More than the medical attention he received (which was amazing) the pastor (Corby) stayed with us and prayed for my child. How deep the Father's love for us! Thank you Covenant Life for loving us! We just became new members. What a magnificent way to be welcomed, with time, concern, and great love.We are humbly grateful.

What's the difference between loving the church little "c" and loving the church big "C"? I ask wanting to grow in understanding in what and why's behind loving both.

I tire of these hyperboles. All of these reasons not to love the church are ok reasons to love (Eros) the church. We all love others bc of how nice they make us feel and love us. I'm guessing no one got married bc they were repulsed by and treated as an enemy by their spouse. Just don't let those reasons be the only reason you love the church. We are called to love each other (the church) with brotherly (familial love) ALSO! And let's not forget the additional call to love each other with unconditional (agape) love.

Hey Josh,

You write really well... Very clear and some interesting points... How are we to respond to this?

Are we to refocus our prayers or actions? What do you mean by church? I understand it to mean the community of believers on earth who are the bride of Christ? Is that what you understand it to be? Like Shawn above are you talking about how we feel (eros) in terms of love?

I feel I cannot love (or hate) 'the church' it is way to big! I like (or hate) individuals, meetings, leader/ship, etc... The church is like 'freedom' or 'democracy', which are concepts... but I cannot love them. I can only love individuals not concepts. Neither can I love 'groups' or 'organizations' or 'institutions' either eros, agape or philo!

Thanks for helping me think through the issues, I would like to hear your thoughts,

Be blessed,

David.

We do love church for all the wrong reasons. For me, it is the place where all my friends are. It's a place where I catch up on life. I dont want to miss out!

Great reminder you gave us

David
Red Letter Believers blog
"Salt and Light"
http://www.redletterbelievers.com

I'm not so sure if I agree with the blog post.

Let's re-phrase the statements:

Because of what the church does for you, because sooner or later it won't do enough, don't love the church.

Because of a leader, because human leaders are fallible and will let you down, don't love the church.

Because of a program or a building or activities, because all those things get old, don't love the church

Because of a certain group of friends because friendships change and people move, don't love the church.

That's the essential meaning of the statements. I think we can and should love the Church for any reason. Whether it's a good reason or a bad reason, it's still a reason to love the Church. The Church is the Body of Christ. By drawing near to the Church, we draw near to Christ.

There could be a number of reasons why I love the Church: it could be because of the fellowship I receive, the beauty that opens my eyes to the Creator of beauty, or that the Church fed me and clothed me when I was poor and naked. By coming into the Church, I, in a mysterious and spiritual way, come into Christ.

Albeit, there might be better reasons that others, but that doesn't mean the less noble reasons are bad to begin with.

My point: as long as these reasons bring them into the Body of Christ, they will be conformed into the Image of Christ. And that's what counts.

I think this post is good but I think it misses the point. Brotherly affection is in my mind training wheels to agape. Like all natural love, it is like a garden that must be weeded. Furthermore, we should love all people with such affection. Christ did so much. It is not based on His salvation. No, it extends much further. Every man bears God's image. It is not renewed but in Christ. To say the church is not more lovable is to say it is like the world. And not fully renewed in such an image.

Affection is far different than the particular love of Christ in salvation. Such love is best depicted as marriage. Our love for other christians is but one leading another home to christ. It is secondary and does not end there.

Our natural affection aught to introduce a very heavy burden when we love those who are lost. This is not a bad thing, but it does hurt. You can't avoid hurt in love. Paul's affection extends toward the israelites as well as the church. When we attempt to love those christians who are backslidden or about to reap bad fruit. It is still natural affection and then some. We should not shy away from it.

As far as being loving the church for fellowship, feeding, and clothing how is that any different than what you said you shouldn't to love the church for before. We should not reject these things. The church is responsible for such. If one person is hurting and out of place. The whole church is shown as hurting.

Any greater reasons do not stand without the lesser. Greater loves do not stand without lesser loves. To pursue lesser and natural loves is to pursue humility. Like loving to wash feet. People eventually get burnt. It is mostly their vanity. To love is risk oneself so they can find their true self.

To bear with one another in love. Is the same thing in our bibles to endure one another in love. Like grit your teeth, its hard work.

Love the church?

Do you mean love the Pope, the cardinals, bishops, priests and nuns?

Love the Archbishop of Canterbury, John Shelby Spong, and Gene Robinson?

Love John MacArthur, James Dobson, Pat Robertson, and Dr. Bob Jones?

Love Ernest Aingly and Rob Parsley?

Or do we get to pick and choose who is the church and who is not?

Hi Josh, thanks for reminding...most of the times when you enjoy the church too much you forget the real purpose why you are there and why you have to love the church.

Thanx I justt leart some ting.

GOD BLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!