Pastor Pat Edwards 4/23/2006
Grace Baptist Church in Bountiful, Utah

Most of us are familiar with the saying, "If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got." It’s a commentary on cause and effect, a principle most of us intellectually accept but emotionally rebel against in a number of areas of life. We want to lose weight and get in shape but we hope it won’t take too much change in the way we eat or how much we exercise. We want our children to behave better but we don’t want to put in all that extra effort of consistency and firm discipline. We hope a little more talk or one more request will cause them to suddenly be enlightened and acknowledge the wisdom of our suggestions. We want the raise, the promotion, the recognition but without having to work any harder. It’s just human nature to want more with as little change or effort as possible. And it’s true in the spiritual world as well. We want to know Jesus; we want intimacy with him, we want to feel his enfolding love and approval, we want to grow into Jesus-like people, wise and compassionate and strong and caring - we just don’t want to do what it really requires.

In a minute I’m going to read you some statistics that prove how we reject cause and effect. They come from a survey by George Barna. I assume they’re relatively accurate according to the scientific model for such studies. From personal experience I believe they are true for today. I don’t know if they reflect a change that is good or bad or if they have been generally true of our culture. But they concern me and they have for the thirty years I’ve been in ministry because they support what I’ve observed during that time. And I think they explain why Americans value and choose the things we do and why the Christian faith has less influence in our world than it should.

But before I read the survey results let’s listen to a command from Jesus. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."John 13:34-35 Jesus commands us to love one another in a way that shows all people we are his disciples. Now let’s look at what American Christians think according to Barna’s survey. Fewer than one out of every five adults firmly believes that a congregational church is a critical element in their spiritual growth and just as few strongly contend that participation in some type of community of faith is required for them to achieve their full potential. Even the most devoted church-going groups - such as evangelicals and born again Christians - generally dismissed that notion: only one-third of all evangeli-cals ...endorsed the concept. Only one out of every four adults who possesses a biblical worldview (25%) agreed with the centrality of a local church in a person's spiritual growth.

Just as few adults (18%) firmly embraced the idea that spiritual maturity requires involvement in a community of faith... Adults who possess a biblical worldview were twice as likely as those who do not have such a perspective to acknowledge the importance of community in spiritual growth. Even so, only one-third of those who see life through a biblical lens embrace the necessity of growth in the company of other believers. "These figures emphasize how soft people's commitment to God is," Barna explained. "Americans are willing to expend some energy in religious activities such as attending church and reading the Bible, and they are willing to throw some money in the offering basket. Because of such activities, they convince themselves that they are people of genuine faith. But when it comes time to truly establishing their priorities and making a tangible commitment to knowing and loving God, and to allowing Him to change their character and lifestyle, most people stop short. We want to be 'spiritual' and we want to have God's favor, but we're not sure we want Him taking control of our lives and messing with the image and outcomes we've worked so hard to produce. It is obvious that most Christians in the U.S. do not see much value in a communal faith experiences. Even though the Bible is unambiguous about the importance of experiencing God through a shared faith journey, and Jesus' example leaves no room for doubt about the significance of involvement in a faith community, Americans remain unconvinced of the necessity of the collective faith experience.

A few weeks ago we finished our series on discipleship. We concluded with the prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper. Let’s look again at a few verses from The Prayer of Jesus: 11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one. 20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. John 17 Jesus deliberately leaves his followers in the world to be a team, a fellowship, a community that experiences the unity of the godhead. Have you ever thought what that means? What a blessing it is? What would it be like to experience the oneness with others that God experiences in the unbroken love the Father, Son and Spirit share? It’s possible; it’s not an empty promise or hope. Jesus wouldn’t pray for something that is unobtainable, teasing us with something that can never be our’s. If we don’t have it, it’s because we won’t obey. We can’t have love and unity if we won’t get close and as we saw approximately two-thirds of those who profess to believe the words of Jesus refuse to do what he commands. We find every reason in every book to stay away from life in the body of Christ. We insist we can do it alone on a mountain top or in a small group Bible study with some close friends or by watching some Christian tv show or by floating from church to church to experience all the varieties out there. The last thing two thirds of those who claim to know better do, is commit to a local body, get involved, become accountable, be consistent, be a blessing and show how the love of Christ is bigger than all our petty, little issues.

But what I want you to remember from these verses is the joy that is offered us if we will let the prayer of Jesus be fulfilled in our lives - we can know the oneness of Father, Son and Spirit with one another. In John 13:34-35 Jesus gives The Purpose of his prayer and command. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

If you’re here today you’re probably not part of the two-thirds who ignore or reinterpret the teaching of Jesus. But then again maybe you just happened to feel like attending church today and our building was close and convenient. If so I hope Jesus’ words will cause you to rethink your position on Christian fellowship and unity. If you’re part of the one-third that tries to practice what Jesus teaches hopefully you’ll discover how to encourage your brothers and sisters who are out of fellowship and don’t see a need for change. I know the best way - according to the words of Jesus - is to let them see what they’re missing when they are not part of the body of Christ.

The Process is what’s difficult. And it’s made doubly difficult by our cultural bias. Unfortunately many of today’s Christian heros both in the church and in the larger society mirror our cultural icons. If you build a church of 20,000 members or are a Christian performer or athlete you are honored and respected inside and outside the church. What makes you heroic is measurable success using the world’s standards. Why is it that Rick Warren or Amy Grant or countless other successful Christians get all the press? Albert Schweitzer and Mother Teresa are dead. Who’s taken their place; who is being held up as a model of Christian sacrifice, service and brotherhood? Bishop Tutu has been recognized for his reconciliation efforts in South Africa but where are the others? The secular media may not be interested in such people but why isn’t the Christian media? Why do Christian heros in America look so similar to rich businesspeople, glamourous actresses and gifted athletes instead of loving servants? I’m not criticizing these people; I’m criticizing the church for putting the wrong people up front, for promoting the wrong role models of Christlike living.

Our role models need to be those who love as Jesus commanded. As we search the Bible the practice of love is clearly defined and doesn’t require much explanation. Romans 12:10: Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Do those two things and you’ll be obeying Jesus. Romans 13:8: Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Love is a debt. Have you ever thought about it that way? It is something we owe each other. Galatians 5:13: You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. God gives us freedom to serve one another. We need to do that and honor those who do the same. How much do we use our freedom to serve others rather than ourselves?. Ephesians 4:2 doesn’t even require any commentary. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Hebrews 10:24: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. What can and should I be doing to help my brothers and sisters grow to be more like Jesus? When do I confront and when do I console?

1 Peter 1:22: love one another deeply, from the heart. Love is more than action; it’s also emotion and spirit. It’s the reality that my life cannot be fulfilled if your’s is not. 1 Peter 3:8: Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

What does it mean to love as Christ loves us? Listen again to a quick summary of this practical advice: Be devoted and honor one another, use your freedom to lovingly serve one another, be humble, gentle, patient, sympathetic and compassionate, bear with one another, live in harmony and encourage one another to love and good deeds.

In all honesty I don’t think we do a very good job of this. That’s why the first half of my sermon title is "Our Biggest Failure." We’re too worried about appearance and numbers and all the ways to measure success. We’re worried about our comfort and our freedom and our independence and we’re looking for instant holiness, the spiritual buzz, a shortcut to intimacy with the Lord. Because that’s the case the majority of American Christians tell George Barna in his surveys they don’t need the church and it’s not necessary for their spiritual growth. And the watching world agrees - the church is irrelevant and not very helpful. We’ve made culture king and disobeyed Jesus by finding every excuse in the book to not live in loving, devoted, accountable fellowship.

But Our Biggest Failure can also be Our Greatest Opportunity. In our culture of consumption where you’re only valued for the next good thing you can do or produce imagine how appealing a fellowship of loving and accepting people would be. To know that these people will accept you as you are, truly love you, and believe you have something worthwhile to contribute to their lives. But there’s more. These people experience an intimacy with God that flows through every relationship and blesses everyone they come into contact with.

It’s time to give up all our American standards of success, all our dependence on technological innovations or new worship styles in order to do what Jesus said, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Those things aren’t wrong; we’ve just got the cart before the horse. In fact if the truth be known we’re coasting along in the cart because we’ve lost the horse somewhere along the way. The horse is body life, love for one another that keeps us accountable, hanging in there. And if you don’t think it’s lost think of how often Christians you know change churches or stop attending when body life gets uncomfortable or boring or they need a change or someone hurt their feelings or blah, blah, blah. And if the people inside the church believe these excuses you know those on the outside believe them as well.

So let’s commit ourselves to change all that right now. Let’s admit our biggest failure and turn it into our greatest opportunity. 7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.1 John 4 I believe Jesus tells us our love for one another is the best evidence we are his disciples and it will be one of the most appealing truths of the good news. Do you? Are you willing to prove it by your commitment to Christ’s body on earth? Will you love each other as Jesus loves you?