Strong, deep, lasting love amongst us – who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Three ways to create that culture in our ministries and churches:
One, “Outdo one another in showing honour” (Romans 12:10). No flippant put-downs. No undercutting. Not even waiting for the next person to make the first move. But me getting out of my self-concern to lift the next guy up with high honour. Doing this verbally, unashamedly.
Two, “Bear with one another” (Colossians 3:13). Not trying to change one another. Who appointed us to that role? Our privilege is to bear with one another’s “weaknesses and oddities, which are such a trial to our patience, . . . to break through to the point where we take joy in [the other person’s quirkiness]” (Bonhoeffer, Life Together, page 101).
Three, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths but only such as is good for building up” (Ephesians 4:29). The people of God filter every word by a higher standard. Even if the words wanting to come out of my mouth are factually true, the real question is, ‘Are my words positively helping the person listening?’
People of God loving one another intensely and openly are a life-enriching social environment.
Such an environment is full of the Holy Spirit. It helps us all grow. Let’s work towards it!
