Our Love for One Another is a Powerful Witness to the World

[James Nored]

Before Jesus went to the cross he said to his disciples, he talked about the love that disciples ought to have for one another:
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn. 13:14-15; cf. 1 Thess. 4:9-10; 2 Thes. 1:3; Heb. 13:1; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 Pet. 3:8; 1 Jn. 3:11, 3:23, 4:7, 11, 12; 2 Jn. 1:5).

Love is seeking the best for the other person. To really understand what this means on a practical level in a church body, it is good to look at all of the many “one another” passages in the New Testament, including:

• Be devoted to one another in love (Rom. 12:10).
• Live in harmony with one another (Rom. 12:16).
• Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God (Rom. 15.7).
• Greet one another with a holy kiss (Rom. 16:16; cf. 1 Cor. 16:20; 1 Pet. 5:14).
• Encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace (2 Cor. 13:11; cf. 1 Thess. 4:18, 5:11; Heb. 3:13l 1 Thess. 4:9-10; Heb. 10:24-25).
• Serve one another humbly in love (Gal. 5:13; cf. 1 Pet. 5:5; Phil. 2:5).
• Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love (Eph. 4:2).
• Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Eph. 4:32; cf. Col. 3:13).
• Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs (Eph. 5:19; cf.  Col. 3:16).  
• Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph. 5:21).
• Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another (James 4:11).
• Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:9).
• Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (1 Pet. 4:9).
• But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin (1 Jn. 1:7).

When you look at all that the church is called to do and be in regards to one another, it is quite a list. Where else but in God's kingdom could one find a people that accept one another, encourage one another, submit to one another, do not slander one another, and so much more? Truly this type of Christ-centered community, with love for God and one another at the center, is very "attractive" to the world. Let us not forget this as we seek to be missional.

 

What if a church has many internal problems? Should it shut everything that is external down and just concentrate on getting healthy? I would say, no. The churches in Rome and Corinth had all kinds of problems, but still were called to reach out and share the gospel. No church will ever be perfect and get to the point where they can say, now we've got it all together and can reach out.

 

And yet, if internal problems are not worked on, they will hamper the church's witness to the world tremendously. So both loving one another and reaching out must be worked upon simultaneously. If either is forgotten, the church's effectiveness in mission will be compromised. If the church truly loves each other, however, this provides a powerful witness to the world.

 

What do you think of these "one another" passages? What do we learn from these passages in regards to mission? Should a church that struggles in its love for one another try to reach out, or should they get themselves in order first?

--James

[Jayaraj.E]

excellent article on how our love for one another can reach the world