John 13:35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
ASV
So what should the gathering of the church look like? Does it matter how large or small, whether it's indoors or outdoors, ornate or simple? I think not, these are irrelevant matters. What the Lord is seeking are those who worship in Spirit and truth and who love in deed and truth. In truth, is the operative term of these statements. It's easy to be caught up in the song, for the sake of the song, and yet be entirely distracted by the restless meanderings of the mind and never really connect with the God you claim to worship. We become infatuated, romanticizing the idea of love, more than experiencing the Truth of it. We go through the motions of church; it's rituals and order, rather than experience an encounter with the living God. Our relationships with each other are often guarded and superficial and never touch the needs of our hearts. It's far too easy to be half-hearted, pretentious and feign your love for both God and His people. Thus, we delude ourselves, believing we please God and do His will, while in truth, serving our own agendas. Jesus taught us ( Luke8:15 ), that the good soil, which was able to bring forth the precious ripened fruit, was an “honest and good heart ”. The emphasis is on the honesty and integrity of this heart. The freedom that Truth has provided to keep this heart from self-delusion. So understand this dear ones, it is impossible to fulfill the greatest commandments and “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” and “ love your neighbor as yourself ” while being yourself, deluded.
Matt 15:7-9
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
The primary evidence of the healthy true church, is demonstrated love for one another. Don't be fooled! Appearances can be deceiving. No man, nor church should be trusted merely on the basis of pretentious outward displays; neither, ornate structures nor extravagant rituals, not eloquent speeches nor impressive knowledge, neither powerful gifting nor false humility. All these can be used to cloak a severe lack of love. The question is, do they love inTruth?! The Church of Jesus Christ is the one place on earth, where a person should be able to find righteousness; ( healthy relationships), acceptance and love without someone trying to exploit them. There's no room for personal agendas, manipulation or controlling spirits in the family of God. Father opposes the proud and doesn't want His children acting as condescending lords! Within every expression of church, there ought to be multiple shepherds who are true examples of Christlike humility and selflessness. Men filled with His Word, led by His Spirit, constrained by His love, consistently manifesting the ripened fruit of the Spirit, mutually accountable, submitting one to another in love. These then, serve as examples, waiting upon the Lord and modeling the appropriate response to God's will, facilitating the gathering in turn, each imparting the gift of Christ from within them. Until the whole body comes to the fullness of the stature of Jesus Christ. You see, the only true Church, is the Church of True Love.
1 Cor 13:1-8
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
NKJV
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