Who loves the church? And Why We Should Too

For a year now, in this space, most Mondays here at RCSproulJr.com I’ve sought to answer questions related to the nature and calling of the church. Such is driven in large part by my contention that the evangelical “church,” for all its strengths, has a great weakness in its own view of the church. Our ecclesiology stinks, to mix the highbrow and the lowbrow.

It is a good thing for the church to acknowledge its weaknesses. This past year I have written from the perspective of a part of the church, not someone on the outside. Most if not all the weaknesses I’ve rebuked are weaknesses I recognize in myself. I too don’t value the church as I ought, nor submit to our Lord as I ought.

The church, like every member of it, isn’t good enough. We are, after all, the gathering of the repentant. Our reason for being, or confession of faith is confession, “Lord be merciful to me, a sinner.” After all these weeks of highlighting both what we are to be and how we fall short, I find it fitting to remember our beginning, that we are the beloved children of the Father and together, the beloved bride of the Son.

Consider the epistles of Paul. How often does he find himself sternly rebuking those to whom he is writing? Many of his letters fall into that category I call “fireman” letters. A fire has broken out in the body at Corinth, or in Galatia and Paul writes the Spirit’s wisdom to put it out.

Yet those same letters always include words of the deepest love and encouragement. Paul reminds them how he prays in gratitude for them. He calls them, with tenderness, saints, and beloved of the Lord. It’s never either/or, always both/and.

Paul is, of course, only following in the path of His and our Lord. Jesus also rebukes us, as we see in His own “fireman” letters to the churches in Asia Minor. One the weaknesses of the contemporary church is that we don’t know how awful we are. Another is that we don’t know how awful we have always been. A third is that we don’t know that in the midst of our awfulness He loves us beyond measure.

The church, like every member within her, does not labor to win the love of the Groom. Rather we labor out of the love of the Groom. Which is one reason it is so vital we don’t lose sight of it. Our love for one another, joy in our hearts, peace in our spirits, patience in our posture flourish in the fertile ground of our assurance of His love for us.

We, like wandering sheep, stink. We are, however not only being washed but have already been declared to be clean. And all along the way the Shepherd loves and leads us. Give thanks for the Bride, and for the One who loves her.

This is the fifty-second and final installment of a series of pieces here on the nature and calling of the church. Remember that we at Sovereign Grace Fellowship meet this Sunday July 13 at 10:30 AM at our new location, our beautiful farm at 11281 Garman Road, Spencerville, IN. Please come join us.