The Loving Church
At a time when our society seems to be more disjointed and divided than ever, people are looking for a place to belong.
Jesus gives us insight into this important aspect of the Christian life when He talked with the Samaritan woman at the well. The church should be
- A community where they feel safe
- A family they can belong to
- A place to genuinely love and be loved
What they are looking for can be found in the church.
No, the church is not perfect, and we certainly have our flaws, however there is nothing like it in the world. It is the only organization Jesus ever started—and it is still going strong.
Nothing prevails against it.
History tells us that the emperor Diocletian set up a stone pillar on which was inscribed these words: “For Having Exterminated the Name ‘Christian’ from the Earth.”
Needless to say, the emperor failed miserably in his attempt to eradicate that which Jesus established and maintains—His beloved church. Jesus Himself promised that “the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
Its fellowship is unique.
One of the distinguishing traits of the early church was its love for one another. The believers looked out for each another.
“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart” (Acts 2:44–46).
The Greek word used in the original text is koinonia. It can be translated as “fellowship, communion, distribution, contribution, partnership, and partakership.” By having all things in common, the church was implementing this principle. Though a communal situation was initially established, it was soon done away with. Still, the koinonia principle behind it remains: it simply means that God’s people take care of one another.
