In America, church members seem to understand the church in one of two ways – as a social club or as a community of faith. What is the difference? To start with, a social club is exclusive; its membership consists of individuals who are mostly the same type of people. In a social club there are membership dues and specific rules and regulations that each member is bound to follow. A social club is consumer driven. It exists to meet the needs of a certain segment of people. If those needs are unmet, there is no point in club membership. How many understand the church as a social club today? It seems that the majority of us Christians have at least some social club mentality when we think of the purpose of the church. On the other hand, there is the church as a community of faith view. A community of faith is inclusive; its membership includes all backgrounds, races, ages and economic situations. There are no dues, just the freedom to be generous. Sure, there are specific expectations of the members but those expectations are based on a common desire to represent Jesus in this world. A community of faith is much more like a family than a social club. Families are made up of different types of people and each has its own set of problems and dysfunctions, but it’s still your family! In the New Testament we find a list of “one another” passages that help us understand what family membership requires. Slowly and prayerfully read the following list:
"Be at peace with each other" (Mk. 9:50)
"Wash one another's feet" (John 13:14)
"Love one another" (John 13:34, & 12 other references)
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love" (Rom. 12:10)
"Honor one another above yourselves" (Rom. 12:10)
"Live in harmony with one another" (Rom. 12:10)
"Stop passing judgment on one another" (Rom. 14:13)
"Instruct one another" (Rom. 15:14)
"Accept one another, as Christ accepted you" (Rom. 15:17)
"Greet one another with a holy kiss" (Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 6:20 and 2 Cor. 13:12)
"When you come together to eat, wait for each other" (1 Cor. 11:33)
"Have equal concern for each other" (1 Cor. 12:25)
"Serve one another in love" (Gal. 5:13)
"If you keep on biting and devouring each other.you will be destroyed by each other" (Gal. 5:15)
"Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other" (Gal. 5:26)
"Carry each other's burdens" (Gal. 6:2)
"Be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Eph. 4:2)
"Be kind and compassionate to one another" (Eph. 4:32)
"Forgiving each other as God in Christ has forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32)
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs" (Eph. 5:19)
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Eph.5:21)
"In humility, consider others better than yourselves" (Phil. 2:3)
"Do not lie to each other" (Col. 3:9)
"Bear with each other" (Col. 3:13)
"Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another" (Col. 3:16)
"Teach one another" (Col. 3:16)
"Admonish one another" (Col. 3:16)
"Make your love increase and overflow for each other" (1 Thess. 3:12)
"Encourage one another" (1 Thess. 4:18, and 5:11)
"Build each other up" (1 Thess. 5:11)
"Encourage one another daily" (Heb. 3:13 and 10:25)
"Spur one another on to love and good deeds" (Heb. 10:24)
"Do not slander one another" (Js. 4:11)
"Don't grumble against each other" (Js. 5:9)
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed" (Js. 5:16)
"Love one another deeply from the heart" (1 Pet. 1:22 & 4:8)
"Live in harmony with each other" (1 Pet. 3:8)
"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling" (1Pet. 4:9)
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others" (1 Pet. 4:10)
"Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another" (1 Pet. 5:5)
"Greet each other with a kiss of love" (1 Pet. 5:14)
Did you read it slowly and prayerfully? If not go back and read it again. There is a common denominator in each of these passages. They are each presented as commands to each member. It would be easy to look at such a list and see where the church has failed us in one or several of these passages. But that is not the point. That is a social club mindset. No, the point is for each of us to look at ourselves in order to evaluate where we have fallen short, where we need growth and improvement. When I do that I instantly go from being self righteous towards the failures of others and become convicted of my own failures and sins. Wouldn’t the church be a better place if each of saw things that way. Wouldn’t we become less critical of others and more concerned about how we can be better family members? Doesn’t this completely shatter the church as social club mentality? What if we applied these verses at home, in our marriages and with our kids? I believe that this is the type of community that represents Jesus to the world, one worthy to be called the Body of Christ. Let us strive in our own hearts to daily apply these great commands.
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