Is your church a loving church? I have visited many churches in my life. I have been to a church where I felt love the instant I walked in the door. People smiled at each other. They spoke to one another. They shook hands. They greeted everyone in Christian love. It was very apparent that love was in the church. After the service they stood around and talked for 5 or 10 minutes. The Pastor walked to the exit doors. As the congregation left the church they spoke to the Pastor. I heard remarks about the sermon. I heard plans to meet for lunch at local restaurants. I have also visited churches where I did not feel that love. People frowned instead of smiling. They did not make eye contact when I spoke to them. They nodded their head instead of speaking. They shook hands but I did not feel the warmth. There was no love in the church. After the service they ran from the church. There was no talking with each other. There were no plans to get together for lunch. The church was empty in three minutes. You can always tell if the church is a church with Christian Love. Sometimes the Pastor has to turn out the lights to get the members out of church. What kind of church is your church? Do you have the “Turn out the lights” kind of love?
CLICK FOR RELATED BIBLE TEXT
15 comments:
Hi JT,
I am thankful to God I attend a loving church. I too have attended churches where I did not feel love. It is a wonderful experience when you are visiting a church where you know no one and are greeted with love.
Blessings,
Ken
Hi JT,
This past fall, my family and I went to a friends baptism at his church. It was such an exciting time for my family and I, we were so happy for him. We got to his church early and were greeted by a non greeting. Nobody looked at us or shook our hands. We were confused as to where to go yet nobody offered to give us some help. When the church service started then everybody was super friendly to us, it made me feel sick inside. When we drove home my husband and I were so very sad that we could not feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in that church.
Where the Spirit of God lives there you will find joy, peace and total contentment.
Blessings,
<><
Thanks for your comment Child of God.
yes I attend a "loving church"...but we are few but even in the midst of few you can have "unloving people"...If I have the Love of God abiding within me then I believe that He will overflow my cup and splash love upon those around me...
Thanks for your comment Rhonda.
We should really try to be the "turn out the lights" kind of church.That is how my church is. And even though we lost our pastor about a month ago, we are still big on love.That good Christian kind of love. Everyone who visits comments about our kind of love to everyone.
Thanks for your comment Branman.
Hi John,
This one is a great post, John.
I agree with you on this issue.
I've been to many Churches in my lifetime. However, not all the time I felt love of the Christian fellowship there. I truly believe that we -as Christians- should love one another, show our love to each other, be friendly and express it sincerely at all times.
We should be A Brotherhood of Christians in Action for the Love of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. You see, actions speak louder than words. We -Christians- should be together as one whole Army of Warriors of God in this world, just to fight evil doers, and change the world to a better place to live in.
Thank you, John for sharing these wonderful thoughts and stories to the world!!
You've got a wonderful blog.
I am so happy that I have met you in Blogland, John.
I miss you when you don't visit me.
A banquet of blessings may always abound in your life and those you love, John.
All the best,
Poet Starry Dawn.
Thanks you for your comment my wonderful friend Starry Dawn.
Where there is love The Holy Spirit is certainly present. This holds true with churches as well. Our church holds a prayer service every third week of the month. Prayer requests that are submitted to www.Christian-Miracles.com are always included in the monthly prayer service. God's love is strong at St. Mary's Church because of the commitment to reach out to those in need of Our Lord's mercy and blessing.
Thanks for your comment Loci.
Hey JT! After MANY years of searching for just that kind of church, God directed me to the FAITH and church that I attend now. It is just the kind that you have described plus more. When I came into this church I was a "babe in Christ". I had been going to church since I was a little girl, but I realized that I was just "going through the motions". I didn't truly have a relationship with God. I didn't FEEL His presence. When I came into the church I now attend, that all changed. I not only KNEW He was there and could feel His love envelope me, I saw Him in others. People took me under their wings and helped me grow in Him. We encouraged each other to read the Bible through in a year, if I had ANY questions about scriptures I knew I could go to any elder lady in the church and she would help me. It is amazing. When I walk in the doors of My God's House, I feel like I'm in a DIFFERENT WORLD.
Thank you for your comment on my post. I think we ALL struggle. I truly believe that Satan and our flesh have a field day with our tongue because they know that it is the most unruly member of our body. Paul made the statement that He "died daily". I can't help but wonder if a lot of his repenting was because of what "slipped out" of his mouth. I am so thankful that we are not condemned in the eyes of the Lord, but convicted to watch what we say. Remember, salvation is a journey. We must repent EVERY DAY because we are human and we WILL fall. God knows this. That's why He died for us. As long as we repent (I don't mean just say "I'm sorry) but turn away from the sins we have committed and not do them again, we are forgiven. This has to be an everyday occurrence. I know myself, although it is in my conscious effort not to curse, if I get startled, or I hurt myself, words come out of me that I haven't INTENTIONALLY said in many years. As soon as they blurt out, I'm sorry and I cry Forgive me Father, I didn't mean to say that! What's bad, it that right after I ask forgiveness, the devil uses scripture AGAINST me. He whispers in my ear, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh". Then I start feeling condemnation creep in thinking am I really thinking those words in my heart? I start crying and pleading with the Lord to forgive me.
We cannot let the devil do that to us! We cannot let him use God's Word against us. That is exactly what he did to EVE. I have to keep reminding myself that God didn't write those scriptures to condemn me. He wrote them in LOVE.
OOPS! I did it again! I wrote a book instead of a comment! I pray you won't hold it against me. I kind of get caught up on certain subjects and my heart, brain and fingers take over.
God Bless you and your WONDERFUL blog.
PJ
It is. The Security guys have to empty out the place on Friday nights, because people want to hang out all night. :)--As for me, I am working on it, not really the cuddly, over social type. :)
Thanks for your comment PJ.
Thanks for your comment Randy.
Post a Comment