New York Missions Trip: We Are Family

            “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren…” (KJV)

            That is what John writes in the beginning of I John 3:14*. And we miss it.

            Badly.

            I recently went on a missions trip to Nueva York (New York) to a church that actually got it right. I went there and was astounded. They loved each other.

            For the next couple of posts, I’ll take a break from talking about the various world-views and focus on where I spent a week (and what I learned).

Whoa

            I grew up in a military home. We moved around a lot, so i was able to see many churches. They generally were the same. Come on Sunday, sing a lot, hear a lot (or a little), and leave (quickly). Afterwards I would observe people, and they generally made a b-line for the door. I always had a vague notion that something was wrong with this picture.

            It wasn’t until I went on this missions trip where my vague notion turned into a concrete belief.

            Churches in America have it wrong. We’ve missed the boat.

            Over the missions trip I kept thinking of I John 3:14. How do we know we are saved? Because we love each other. Love. Each. Other.

            For the first time I saw this in practice. I saw a church body that actually loved each other. They wanted to be around each other. They were a family. They lived this verse.

What Happened?

            America happened, really. We’ve been bred to be independent (self-dependent). The mindset of actually needing someone other than yourself is alien to American Christians.

            Contrast this to believers overseas. They need each other. Desperately. They need encouragement, support, food, water, teaching, etc. They love each other because they realized how blessed they are to HAVE family. For that is what they are, family.

            But in America, we keep everything compartmentalized. Never let weakness show. Never let people in on the pain and suffering in your life. Must. Never. Show. Weakness.

            How does this affect worship and the fellowship of Christians? We view each other with suspicion and estrangement. What’s in it for me? What can I get out of church and expending energy in friendships? You mean I have to invest myself in another person’s life? But that’s messy!

            Contrast that with Paul’s words to the Thessalonians (I Thessalonians 2:8):

            “So being AFFECTIONATELY desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were DEAR unto us.”

            If you read the Thessalonian epistles, it’s basically a love letter between Paul and the church in Thessalonica. He LOVED them, and it showed. “Affectionate” is a word we don’t use a lot anymore, but it evokes thoughts of “aww” and “thinking of you all the time” type words. “Dear” is another word we don’t say very much (though we write it) , but it has the same feel.

            Christianity in America is dying. We are becoming Europe, which took the plunge centuries ago. Reasons for this abound, but one of them is the fact that we don’t stand for each other. We don't stick together. We look at a fellow believer and ask, “What in the world is she wearing?” We see a fellow Christian and ask, “How’s the weather?”

            We don’t love. I see you and I should see a brother or sister. I should see someone that I need to protect. Defend. Fight for.

What Do We Do?

            1) We have to recognize that there is a problem. Humans love to ignore problems and hope they go away. No. In this case, the problem won’t go away. We will.

            2) Become involved in each other’s lives. Johnny has a soccer game? Invite some fellow brothers and sisters to watch. Going to the movies? See if anyone else wants to go (just try to avoid “third wheel” situations. Not fun). Just meet up with people for no other reason than just wanting to talk (yes, that came from a guy).

            This step is very practical. Get creative.

            3) Go on missions trips! See what we are blessed with so that when you come back, you’ll be changed.

            4) Pray and ask God to open up doors to those close to you. Sometimes it can be tough when you live a half hour from your church building, so see if there are Christians in your neighborhood (or interest group) and get together.

Conclusion

             I could’ve gone on forever in any of the sections above. I’m very passionate about this particular aspect of Christianity. “Double Back” by Flame (a Christian rapper) is the basic thought behind this post (if you can't follow the rap, here are the lyrics).

             The simple conclusion is that Christians do not love each other today. There are exceptions, but I’m not talking about those. I’m guilty of it, too. I don’t know how many times I’ve talked with other believers and viewed them as necessary evils (just deal with them long enough until I can do something else).

            The Father loves Jesus. Jesus loves us. We are to love others. A passage sums this up (John 15:12-13):

            “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

            “Greater love hath no man this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (KJV)

            Jesus loved us, and we are nothing of worth. Surely we can love those equal to us, right? The ultimate show of love is laying down our lives for our friends. We are family.

*The other part of the verse is “He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” I refrained from allowing myself to write about that section of the verse. I would’ve gone ballistic and things wouldn’t have been pretty. Just think of James 2:20, and my post would’ve resembled that tone the whole way through. With a few exclamation points.