My friend Sebastian posted this on Facebook the other day, and it really got me thinking about church, in particular my church. Forest Lake is getting ready to create a 4th worship service, and I have the privilege to work with the team helping to put the service together.
As we were discussing worship styles, music, etc. etc. etc. Pastor Geoff reminded us that one of our best tools to build bridges with our Forest Lake Church community is to show humility in everything we do with the 4th service. As the discussions go on, I just keep coming back to that point. In everything we do, we should be humble (and not just for church).
We should lovingly accept someone in a full suit & tie and treat them the same as we would someone in shorts & sandals (James 2:1-12). There are people in our church who love the choir and love organ music, and there are people who love to rock out at full volume. We must, must embrace those who have a different idea of what worship should be than we do, just as we hope they will embrace us (but love them all the same).
Jesus taught that we should treat others as we want to be treated, not treat them the same way they treat us (Luke 6:27-38). What we can't do is sink into an "us/them" way of thinking because the biggest thing about being part of a church community is that we aren't and "us/them" but it's a "we." At the end of the day we must put aside our differences and move forward with a common purpose: teaching people about Jesus and making disciples
That's how people will know that Forest Lake is full of God's people, because we love each other, PERIOD.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35)
Isn’t that the kind of church you want to be a part of?
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