What would it look like for us to not only understand, but to love what happens through this thing we call the Church? Of course, not everyone understands, and not everyone loves what God is doing among us.
I remember as kids how our parents would take us on awesome vacations. As a family, we didn't have much money, but somehow we managed to go to Disneyland and Cape Canaveral. One year we went to Washington D.C. and even toured the White House! One year we went to South Dakota. Talk about amazing scenery, sunsets, and sights! We saw buffalo, prairie dogs, moose, elk, and bear. We went to Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Devil's Tower, and deep underground into caves. We also went to a place called Wall Drug. I'm not sure why, but the signs lured us in.
One thing I remember about the trip to South Dakota was that one of my brothers had a bad attitude the whole trip. We had a VHS player in our van, so while we were out looking at the sights, he would stay in the van, being angry. When we'd ooh and aah, he'd sulk. When we ate, he'd sit off by himself. He seemed mad at the family, ashamed to be with us, and couldn't wait to get home. Isn't it sad how one bad attitude can color things for everyone else?
It can be like that in the Church too. If we pay attention, God shows us breathtaking displays of his glory, mercy, and power. But sometimes, instead of enjoying the journey, the wrong attitudes take hold and things progress on a sour note.
One attitude that takes hold is an attitude that says, "I love Jesus, but I hate the Church." There is an attitude that says, "Awww, do I really have to obey God?" There is another attitude that says, "I'm just a sinner. That's who I am, that's what I am, and thats all that I am." And there is another negative attitude that says, "Shhhh. Don't talk about Jesus. You might offend someone."
Instead of focusing on the negative, let's focus on the positive. Let's focus on what our attitude can be, or might be, with everyone on the same page. I consider these things loving attitudes, or transformational attitudes. There are a total of four of them.
The First Attitude is that of Embracing the Church.
1 John 5:1 (ESV) says, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him."
Did you know there is book titled, "I Love Jesus but I Hate the Church?" That's definitely an attitude, and it's as prevalent today as back then. If we account for the fact that the Church is the body of Christ, it's like saying "Jesus, you have a nice face, but your body disgusts me." If we account for the fact that the Church is the bride of Christ, it's like saying, "Yo, Jesus! Why did you make such an ugly woman your wife? It's a funny song, but really, Jesus?" And if we account for the fact that the Church is the beneficiary of all Christ has done, it's like saying, "Jesus, you wasted your life for that?"
You'd never criticize someone's body to his face. You'd never insult a man's wife to his face. Nor would you deride a man for what he has poured blood, sweat, and tears into. So why would we tolerate such an attitude in the Church? If you love God, you love what he loves. You love his body the Church, his bride the Church, and the beneficiary of all he's done, the Church! Who God is and what God loves are inseparable.
Now truth be told, the Lord did make an ugly woman his wife. The Church can be U-G-L-Y ugly at times! I have seen and experienced the best and worst of the Church. Some of you have too. But that is the point! We come to Christ unlovable, selfish, sinful, rebellious, and angry... and then the miracle happens. We discover how Christ loved us, and gave himself up for us, so that he might sanctify us and cleanse us. He washed us with the water of his word, so that he might present us to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or any such thing, so that we might be holy and without blemish.
Don't you realize that in the Church we ought to love one another? Christ loves the Church as his own body. We too should love his Church as our own bodies. He who loves the Church loves himself, and loves God. No one ever hates his own body, but nourishes and cherishes it. This is how Christ feels about the Church! Read Ephesians 5:25-33. Christ has set his perfect affection on an unholy Church, with the goal of awakening her love, awakening her beauty, and transforming her into his likeness. If you love Jesus, you'd better learn to love what he loves!
The Second Attitude is that of Enjoying obedience.
1 John 5:2-3 (ESV) tells us, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome."
Somebody was asking me about NASCAR the other day. My wife Lara loves NASCAR. Don't call our house on Sunday afternoon. It's like the Superbowl every Sunday. And when Dale Junior crashes, it's like a funeral. Watching NASCAR on television is one thing, but going to the track is another thing. It's equivalent to me coming to the church parking lot at high noon, in the heat of the day, and me standing screaming at the cars driving down Toronto Road. It's just not in my DNA to see some man getting out of his car and begging him, "Can I have your autograph? Can I have your autograph?"
Kidding aside, when you love someone, you want to please her. Honestly, one year we managed to get Dale Junior's autograph, after failing for 3-4 years. You should have seen the joy on Lara's face. When you love someone, you don't begrudge doing what pleases her. And it's like that with God. If you love God, you obey him, and it's your joy to obey him. You are his bride, his body, and the beneficiary of all God's done in Christ. Why would you be sour about obeying God? But some people are, I suppose.
The Third Attitude is that of Pursuing Victory.
1 John 5:4-5 (ESV) says, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"
I'll tell you, God's love in Christ Jesus is powerful enough to transform you. There isn't any sin, temptation, or evil that God's power cannot help you overcome. If you confess your sin, God is faithful and just to forgive your sins and purify you from all unrighteousness. There is no blot, blemish, or imperfection that should remain when you cooperate with God. But some have this attitude of, "I'm just a sinner. That's who I am, that's what I am, that's all that I am, and that's all I'll ever be. Woe is me. God's passed me by."
I tell you it's all a lie! He who believes that Jesus is the Son of God shall overcome the world! In John 16:33 (ESV) Jesus says, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." Or what about John 1:4-5 (ESV) which says, "In him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." Or consider Romans 12:21 (ESV) which says, "Do be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Or 1 John 2:14 (ESV) which says, "I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one."
What a wrong attitude and false message it is to be resigned to being a sinner. We are overcomers! God has given us victory in Christ. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:57 (ESV), "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." You are the victor. So stop calling yourself a loser! In time, God's perfect love will fully transform you. Be joyful!
The Fourth Attitude is that of Sharing Jesus.
1 John 5:6 (ESV) says of Jesus, "This is he who came by water and blood-- Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood." So what is the water? The water refers to Jesus' baptism. And who was Jesus' baptism for? Jesus' baptism was and is for everyone. John 3:16 (ESV) tells us, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
And what is the blood? The blood refers to Jesus' death on the cross. Jesus' death is sufficient to atone for the sins of the whole world. In the Church we have two sacraments, baptism and communion. The baptism is for everyone who believes, but so is communion. Baptism and communion are invitations to receive life in Christ.
There is a reason we practice these sacraments. They are a testimony of all that God has done for us in Christ Jesus. They are a proclamation of God's activity in Christ! This is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:26 (ESV), "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." The bread reminds us of Jesus' broken body, and the juice reminds us of his shed blood, his sacrificial death, on the cross.
So, let's go back to 1 John 5:6-12 (ESV). Not only do the sacraments of baptism and communion give testimony to life in Jesus, but they also testify to the Spirit and God the Father. And not only to the Spirit and Father and sacraments, but to you and me too!
"This is he who came by water and blood-- Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."
Love is doing what is needed and what is necessary for the livelihood of others. The problem today is that Christians will do virtually anything to help a person in this life. But Christians won't do virtually anything to help a person receive eternal life! What kind of attitude is that? Or as Jesus himself asked in Mark 8:36 (ESV), "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"
Let us take note of 1 John 5:11-12 once more. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is... WHERE??? Say it! ... In his Son. Whoever has the Son has... WHAT??? Say it! ... Life. And whoever does not have the Son of God does not have... WHAT??? Say it! ... Life!
Baptism proclaims that all must die, be buried, and be raised by faith in Christ Jesus in order to have life. Communion proclaims that Christ's atoning death is available to all who believe. He did this all for you. His love gives you victory over sin. On this the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit agree. Whoever has the Son has life, and whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
We shouldn't suppose that it's a loving attitude to suppress the testimony of God. I can think of no greater way to oppose a person than to keep silent about Jesus. Let us shed the attitude that says, "I love Jesus, but I hate the Church." Let us never say, "Awww, do I really have to obey God?" Or... "I'm just a sinner. That's who I am, that's what I am, and that's all that I am." And never say, "Shhhh. Don't talk about Jesus. You might offend someone."