Robert Ricciardelli
Well, I do hear it a lot, and frequently right before the big word “BUT” when someone starts to tell what he thinks is wrong with her, and how she should be and isn’t. Sometimes that someone is me, but I want to be on record as a lover of the Church. It would be foolish not to. If we believe in the words of Jesus, then we are to love what He loves, and He loves His Church, even in her imperfect journey to revealing His perfect unshakable Kingdom.
Sometimes the inevitability of change can get us very excited. The change that is taking place in what is known as “the Church” gives many great hope.
The Church was designed to be the greatest relational community known to man. (That’s a very bold statement.) I’m not talking about a Sunday service with teaching and worship, or even a service organization, but a people in relationship with one another, who have become dear to one another. Through success and failures, in difficult times and hardships, she remains strong, encouraging and offering hope. What’s not to love about that?
The people who are the Church are known in their neighborhoods as individuals and families who care not only about themselves and their friends, but about neighbors and enemies. This love brands them as followers of Jesus and rebels of the systems, and draws the world to them.
Who wouldn’t love this Church that is the supernatural expression of a supernatural people in love with a supernatural God who sent a supernatural Son to proclaim a supernatural Kingdom? And it’s all offered and entered into by the simple faith of a child.
What’s not to love about a Church that is so diverse that the world wonders how we can all live in the same community and gather together whenever? Black, white, brown, yellow, and red; rich and poor, young and old, married and single, winners, losers, straight and gay choosing to come together because we are supernaturally filled with a love that transcends prejudices and presuppositions, and leaves it to our God to be the judge.
I am so a lover of this Church where people know the law, but are aware of their constant need of grace while desiring to be a Father-pleaser in obedience to His rule. Where people understand His mercy, knowing that if they break even one law they are as guilty as breaking all hundreds and hundreds of them.
In this Church that He loves, we never have to fear being shamed and shunned and can be free to tell our stories as they really happened, always proving the faithfulness of God. It’s an environment where there is safety and security to begin to deal with our issues without the fear of being thrown out like garbage.
Where else but the Church can we find relationally connected people with the power and gifts of God freely given “without repentance”? He says He will give us all we need to change the environment, to transform the neighborhood as He transforms us. He impregnates us from above with His DNA, that eternal seed of heaven, and says, “Now imitate me and be my ambassador!” And the neighborhood transforms, maturing in compassion, graciousness, slowness to anger, mercy, truth, covenantal faithfulness and forgiveness.
And, yeah, more than anything I love the love of the Church. It is the purest expression of a community of believers doing good for one another, who will not put up with rumors and slander and backbiting and talking trash about one another; where politics is not the issue or the answer, but the preeminence of God’s Kingdom is; where we love each other as if our lives depended on it because love makes up for practically anything.
Of course I love the Church. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Who could resist such a love from such a God toward such a people?
David VanCronkhite [email protected]
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