Today’s devotion will be a bit different. Typically, I strive to write posts that will uplift and encourage while also educating, but occasionally, I feel the nudging of the Lord to send out a warning. Honestly, these aren’t the easiest entries to write because there’s always the inner voice shouting, “Don’t do it! You’ll make someone angry or hurt someone’s feelings!” But, the truth is the truth, and it must be shared.

Christians, I want to speak to you today, and I will be straightforward. As a whole, we’re failing in our spiritual walk. Too often, we’re so caught up in our self-righteous attitudes and list of rules, we fail to obey the two most important commandments in the Bible: (1) to love God with all our heart, mind and soul, and (2) to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Where is the love, people? The past few months of traveling and visiting different churches have opened my eyes to the fact that we’ve got problems. I look around, and I see Christians arguing with one another about standards and convictions. Churches are splitting over ridiculous disagreements about the color of the carpet in the church. Pastors are resigning because they want a more prominent church. Missionaries are leaving the field because someone from a supporting church hurt their feelings. Christian organizations are taking advantage of good-hearted individuals because it suits their budget and agenda. It sounds more like a kindergarten classroom than a loving family, doesn’t it? But it’s happening all around us.

We, as Christians, are people. I get that. We’re human. We make mistakes. We’re far from perfect. But we’re also called to be an example of the One who lives within us. The One who is Love. The One who can give us the strength and grace to live differently. I’m not saying we’re better than those who don’t know the Lord, but I am saying we should act differently. The world should see a difference. We should display the love of God in such a way that the lost can’t help but notice. 

I want us to grasp what these verses are saying. It doesn’t matter how smart we are or how much faith we have because, without love, we’re nothing. God isn’t concerned with how well the preacher can preach but instead if he has a love for his congregation. It’s not important how many programs we have or how many charitable efforts we embark upon to make ourselves look or feel good. If it’s not done in love, it counts for nothing.  

Love doesn’t turn its nose down at the poorly-dressed individual who walks through the doors of the church. It offers a smile. Love doesn’t shut others out because they don’t see eye to eye with it on every possible theory. Love listens and seeks to understand, and when necessary, agrees to disagree. Love doesn’t take advantage of others willing to serve. It is kind and gracious and attempts to care for all.

Sure, we may have beautiful buildings full of nicely-dressed people, but do we have love? Yes, we may have preachers who can make people shout and singers who can bring tears to our eyes, but if there’s no love in it, it’s all for nothing.

I’m sure you, like me, often wonder why more people don’t come to church. Honestly, folks, I think this is why. I firmly believe the lost look around at the Christians they know and say, “They act just like me, so why should I waste my time going to church. It’s not doing anything for them, so I’m sure it won’t do anything for me either.” How sad! It’s not Satan and the world turning others away from the church, it’s us! We’re to blame. Arguing amongst ourselves. Shouting at people about their sin instead of showing them the love of Jesus. No wonder they don’t want to have any part with us!

Before I close, let me clarify that I am not in any way condoning sin or urging you to lower your standards (if those standards are based on the Bible). What I’m saying is we need to be more like Jesus. On more than one occasion, He was ridiculed for the company He kept because He was always hanging around with those of questionable character. Why? Out of love. Ironically enough, the ones who received the harshest rebukes and criticisms from the Lord were the “church goers”—the Pharisees. Why? Because they’d lost sight of the love. They had become consumed with themselves and their lists of dos and don’ts. Everyone else just impeded their service to the Lord, but they forgot that, without love, there is no service to God. It’s all for nothing if it’s not done out of love!

Now, I’ve probably stepped on a few toes and ruffled a few feathers here. No doubt, I’ll have a long list of unsubscribers in my inbox tomorrow, but so be it. I’ve said what I believe God wanted me to say, and I’ve spoken the truth from God’s Word. If that offends people, it’s probably because they know they’re guilty. And I’m not just flying off at the mouth when I say that. I have Scripture to back it up.

Those who love God’s Word are not offended by it. Convicted, sure, but not offended. I don’t write these words today to offend. Consider it a warning. We need to be careful we don’t get so caught up in being a “Christian,” we forget to be like Christ. God is love. He loves the world, and He proved it by sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. We bear the name “Christian,” but when others look at us, do they see Christ? Do they see love? If not, why not?