1 John 4:11-12 NIV Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Okay, I’m going to meddle. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t a part of a church or regularly attending church meetings. I have been serving in ministry for almost 39 years now. I have heard the horror stories of those who have been hurt by someone or ones in churches or by those claiming to be Christians. My parents were hurt, my father left the ministry altogether and even put aside attending church for a while, we children were hurt by the misunderstandings that resulted, family and friends have been hurt, I have been hurt as a pastor-accused of motives I didn’t even know I had or actions I can’t remember doing, people who find out I am a pastor often tell unsolicited stories of hurt and pain caused by churches and Christians. I’m not sure a Christian or church attender alive can testify to a pain-free, hurt-free experience with church.

It’s a wonder, given this reality, that more people don’t give up on church. It’s a wonder, given my experience in ministry, that I haven’t followed the steps of my father. It’s a wonder that people keep coming back for more. But, although the reality may fall short at times, the ideal is still powerful and compelling. As I mentioned before, the word “love” is a powerful word and the thought of feeling and expressing love a compelling force in our lives. The motivation to love fellow Christians is found in the experience of God’s love, a love so deep, so profound, so overwhelming that it changes us and drives our desire to love. Even though we haven’t seen God, we can experience his love and what that love does in changing our lives. If his love resides in us, we can be sure he dwells in us and we can count on that love reaching its goal in our lives.

I’m glad I didn’t give up on God or his people. I’m glad I have stayed in the ministry and sought to learn to love and forgive. I’m thankful that my children are active in church, serving the Lord. I’m thankful that their children are being raised to love the Lord and his church. I know that they have and will experience challenges to that love, but I am praying that they will persevere and never give up on God or his people.

Burdick explains: The fact of God’s matchless love lays upon us a continuing obligation (Greek present tense) to be loving one another. Not only is it true that we have received the nature of God by reason of our new birth and thus we should love, but we have the example of His love teaching us and persuading us to love each other. [Burdick, Epistles of John, 74.]