We need each other

A friend once told me "I am a Christian, but I don't need church. All they are is a bunch of hypocrites."

At the time, this really disturbed me. Mainly because the church has this predominant reputation. I can't "un-hypocrite" those who are. Although I'm trying to influence people by my posts to challenge everyone to live what they say, or get off the fence and go home. But in the end, I can't change people. I can only offer information. People will be what people will be.

I told her that I didn't think I could tread water long enough to fix the battleship from the outside. (a bit of wisdom modified from a not-so-famous comedian.)

I decided to look to God and see what he said about hanging together. First off, I had to make some assumptions. Generally, in any field of study, this is where we go wrong... the assumptions at the beginning. So, I wanted to be sure I was correct right off. If you think I'm off here, tell me because I am going to base alot of info on these.

1) Humans are, by nature, social creatures. We desire contact, communication, relationships and exchange with other humans.

2) Because of this, we WILL surround ourselves with other people, in some form or fashion: from work, to church to clubs to poker-night with the guys or mall-shopping with the girls.

If we can agree on these two statements, the rest becomes academic when looking at scripture. The first and foremost evidence of this is Christ's command, which we've recently reviewed in the book of John:

John 15:9 [Christ is speaking] "Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you. Remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments you will remain in My love, ... 12 This is My commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you.

"One another" wouldn't be possible if we tried to go solo. And loving one another is the evidence that we have the Spirit of God in us. We cannot say that we love God if we don't love each other.

1 John 2:3 This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. 4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," without keeping His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

So loving Christians (one another) is essential. But hypocrites (those who say they are Christians, but are not)... we don't have to love them or hang around them, right?

Yes and no. We do have to love them, but we must be very careful who we choose to surround ourselves with in daily company.

Christ himself said we should love those that hate us, and pray for those that pursecute us. How much more, if we are to love those that really, really hate us, should we love those that don't understand the full truth, but are close to it? Should we push them away and mock them? Of course not. We should pick them up and lead them. Be an example to them, and chastise them when they are wrong.... after all, God instructs us to rebuke each other (other christians, not non-beleivers!! I'll show more on this later.)

But they should not be our closest friends... those we go to for support, advice, entertainment or company. Christ warned "Bad company corrupts good morals." And it is very true. Those we hang around and trust and rely on for help and strength, are the very ones we pick up habits from. Habits lead us in patterns of life. Patterns lead us to or from God.

Who are your closest friends? Has God placed someone in your life to test your "Love Ability" because they have low lovability? Do you attend a church of strong believers, or do you attend a social club that references itself as Church? Do you attend church at all?

We can't be strong alone.