 | ||
| Photo by Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
Sometimes church hurts. People, even those who
claim to be followers of Christ, hurt others, even fellow worshippers. A study
of the Acts of the Apostles shows great discord in the early church after the
Resurrection. Staunch Jewish converts demanded strict adherence to their
customs, particularly circumcision. Gentile converts balked, having a different
viewpoint. Greek converts complained their widows were not receiving the same
considerations as those of other ethnic backgrounds. Others of Jewish heritage
decried the conversion of Gentiles, wanting the Christian church to remain only
among Jewish converts.
We can certainly imagine those discussions were
not always conducted with Christ like charity. Sounds like similar rifts today
between Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists and
non-denominational fundamentalist churches. Even members lash out against each
other over interpretation of scripture.
Somewhere in all of this, the combatants forget
the greatest commandment, “Love God above all things, with your whole heart and
mind.”
Love God above your sense of righteousness, your interpretation
of scripture, and your judgment of the holiness of others. Love God, and let
that love show in your actions, and then your words.
The second great commandment: “Love your neighbor
as yourself.” Love the woman sitting next to you, the one whose lifestyle you vehemently
disapprove. Love the screaming child acting in a way none of yours would ever
behave. Love the preacher who has proven he is all too human. Love those who
criticize you.
My church deeply hurt me, to the point I looked
elsewhere for a church home. After years of searching, God led me back. That
first Sunday, I sat in my pew alone, depressed and hurt. I watched families worshiping together, remembered the family I had lost, remembered the cruelty
of fellow members.
