“Show me a church where there is love, and I will show you a church that is a power in the community. In Chicago a few years ago a little boy attended a Sunday school I know of. When his parents moved to another part of the city the little fellow still attended the same Sunday school, although it meant a long, tiresome walk each way. A friend asked him why he went so far, and told him that there were plenty of others just as good nearer his home.
"They may be as good for others, but not for me," was his reply.
"Why not?" she asked.
"Because they love a fellow over there," he replied.
If only we could make the world believe that we loved them there would be fewer empty churches, and a smaller proportion of our population who never darken a church door. Let love replace duty in our church relations, and the world will soon be evangelized.”
The life of love must begin among us, the church. The church should be like a well of love. When we gather together, love should be exhibited toward one another so much that love just builds up and springs forth into those around us once we leave the gathering. A polluted well produces polluted water while a clean well produces water that nourishes. And a dry well produces no nourishment at all. When we gather, we need share love for one another.
If love is not among this body of believers, then we are not even close to being the people God intended for us to be. We might even still have love for those outside of the church, but that love, if there is no love in the church, is just manipulation. It is a deceptive love that is not sincere. It does spring forth from our core but is contrived for purposes of converting others to a Christianity that is altered from what it should be.
Almost every Christian will say that we are to love the people within the church. However, loving one another in the church takes work. It takes time. It takes our whole being. We cannot just check in and out on a Sunday morning if we are going to meet each other's needs.
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