Chuck Bridges Blog

I Love You! These words sound so sweet and usually fall effortlessly from our lips. But, as we’ve been reminded this month, true LOVE is more about what we do than what we say. This Sunday we will conclude our series on LOVE by talking about one of the most elusive, misunderstood, and fabricated applications of LOVE — Jesus’ command to Love One Another! (did you know that the phrase ‘one another’ appears 77 times in the Bible?) It is clear how serious God is about this thing called ‘brotherly love.’

I have been a part of a church for my entire life (with the exception of about 5 years when I rebelled against the whole church thing) so I have seen all kinds of interesting demonstrations of this thing called ‘brotherly love.’ I have watched normally rational, reserved, self-controlled people go off like a grenade over something as insignificant as when a group meets or who failed to put gas in the van when it was returned. It almost seems like “church life” has a way of turning professional, calm people into a younger version of themselves (like the days when they wanted their pacifier, their bottle and their favorite toy — NOW).

While we all have the potential to get our attitudes side tracked and behave below our own standards (not to mention God’s Standards), we need to be reminded that our relationships with other Believers (especially the ones we go to church with) basically defines our Christianity. Jesus put it this way: “By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Our unconditional, sincere love for those who share our Salvation status serves to identify us with the band of Christ-Followers. When we allow silly disagreements and personal opinions to interrupt our fellowship we rob each other of the Abundant Life and we shed a dark shadow over Christianity.

I am reminded of a quote I read recently by Mahatma Ghandi: “I like your Christ but not your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” I wonder how outsiders would interpret our version of Christianity by the way we relate with other Believers? Do we say the same things about other believers when they are around as we do when they are absent? Do we continue to carry hard feelings towards another Believer who hurt us?

It is so critical for us to reconcile our relationships with other Believers. Not only will we be much happier but our chances of actually convincing someone who doesn’t know Christ that He really is the Way, the Truth, and the Life will greatly improve! I commit to do my part to do what Jesus commanded: “A new command I give you — Love One Another!” If you are my “One Another” let me say with all sincerity – I Love You!