Do Love the Church

The Charge to Love the Church

We're continuing from last week's charge to not love the world nor the things in the world. Tonight's charge is the opposite: love the church and the things in the church. Nobody can truly love God without loving His church. Nobody can follow Christ without loving the church Jesus is building.

The primary way we demonstrate love for the church is through commitment. If I say I love my wife but show no commitment, it makes no sense. Commitment demonstrates love, just as love motivates commitment. The same applies to the church.

Last week, we saw why many youth leave the church after graduation: no foundation in the gospel, no true belief. They went out from us because they were never really of us. But even believers need commitment beyond tradition, family attendance, or habit. Traditions can be easy to break when there's no love or commitment to the people and activities of the church.

Attending because your family does isn't enough—Jesus said His message would divide families. Attending out of mere habit or lack of alternatives fails when life opens up other options. The strongest foundation is the gospel: genuine belief that Jesus died for your sins, redeems you, and brings you into God's presence. Believers want to worship God and gather with their own kind. Birds of a feather flock together—unbelievers flock to the world, where they fit in.

I experienced this as an unbeliever in youth group. The world welcomed me because I belonged there. The church didn't reject me, but I disdained them because they weren't my kind. True believers sense hostility in the world and find their home in the church.

If you love the church and its people—blood-bought, Spirit-filled, gospel-sanctified—you'll commit to them. Common salvation creates the deepest bond, overlooking social awkwardness or differing interests. Connect on the gospel level, beyond hobbies or personalities.

Universal and Local Church

The church has two senses: universal—all believers of all time—and local, like Heritage, a visible expression of the universal church. Commitment to a local church visibly demonstrates love for Christ's church. It becomes your home church, though unity exists with other true churches.

Biblical Reasons for Commitment

Leaders Who Guard Your Souls (Hebrews 13:17)

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Commit to a local church for its leaders, who watch over your souls and give account to God. Pastors are appointed by God, accountable for guarding your entire being—visible and private life. The world devours sheep; leaders shepherd against wolves and spiritual dangers.

"Obey" means trust and be persuaded (like faith). "Submit" means yield or rest in leadership, like a sigh of relief. Leaders vigilantly guard against soul threats—you're not equipped alone. Lone-ranger Christianity is dangerous. Jesus places protection in local congregations.

Church discipline illustrates this: removal exposes to danger, prompting repentance (1 Corinthians 5 delivers to Satan for destruction of the flesh). Imagine rejecting protection—insanity!

Make leaders' work joyful, not groaning (complaining). Petty gripes diminish protection; obedience and holiness increase it. Your advantage is joyful leaders guarding consistently.

Do Not Neglect to Meet Together (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

This warns against neglecting meetings or abandoning the church—both periodic absence and total dropout. Avoid legalism; motivation is Christ's faithfulness and the gospel. Hold fast your confession: Jesus saves you. Don't waver—God is faithful.

Consider how to provoke (stir up) one another to love and good works. Know each other deeply to push the right buttons. Church-hopping prevents this—you can't think of faceless people.

Two ways: (1) Don't neglect gathering (episunagogē—same as gathering the elect). Treat it as commitment to people, not building or hobby. Sporadic attendance doesn't stir love. (2) Encourage (parakaleō)—come alongside, admonish biblically, walk personally with others. Love exalts, considers needs (1 Corinthians 13).

Church isn't a hobby; it's who we are. Constant attendance fosters love and good deeds benefiting all.

The Early Church Example (Acts 2:46-47)

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

They met daily, beyond temple—in homes, with glad hearts. Quality commitment grew quantity: Lord added daily. Grow qualitatively for numerical growth. Love like this provokes response.

The Nature of True Commitment

Commitment to a local church is known—by members and outsiders. Like public marriage vows, it's exclusive, permanent. Hidden commitment yields no benefits: no soul protection, no loving deeds, no provocation. Formal membership declares: this is my church family.

Graduates, don't miss these benefits: soul protection, fellowship blessings, obedience pleasing God. Love the church—commit fully.