Why I Love My Church

I’ve had such an honor of being part of diverse and fully alive churches. Yes, I know firsthand there are plenty of churches that are dead, sleepy, and/or strangled by religion. But today, I want to shout from the roof tops why I love my church! I want to celebrate that Jesus is good and true and His Bride (the Church) is becoming more like Him every day.

“Why I love my Church.” Ooph. I know just that title alone can sting for some of you. If you’ve been wounded in a church community, I’ll start by saying I am so deeply sorry and have so much mercy for all you’ve been through. Please forgive them. If anything, if only for your own sake, forgive them. Let me assure you that it’s worth forgiving bad experiences and pressing on to find a church community that is full of life and love! We’ve been tenacious in searching for truly loving church families, and it’s been worth the rough road getting there!

So, today, I just want to enjoy some levity and relish in a celebration of why I love my church.

As I write this list, I think of not only the church we belong to now, but also all the other communities we have been so honored to be part of across this nation.

If you don’t currently have a healthy church community, please let this list give you hope that true Holy Spirit-filled, loving churches really do exist out there!

Why I Love My Church:

• Prayer is their priority.
• They walk in humility.
• They are full of life!
• They care for each other.
• They have fun!
• They walk in holy boldness.
• They want people set free.
• They fear God and not man.
• They weep together.
• They rejoice together.
• They don’t back down.
• They are super diverse and yet unified in Christ.
• They fight for justice.
• There’s a fire of Holy Spirit here.
• They walk the talk.
• They praise God with all their strength!
• They pray for government and leaders.
• They long for revival.
• They reach out to the lost.
• They believe in miracles.
• And they experience miracles!
• They pray the Word.
• They love much because they’ve been forgiven much.
• They love well.
• They love each other.
• They love us.
• They love the lost.
• They have compassion for the broken.
• They love the Lord and they love others.

How to Find a Christ-Following Church

Jesus describes how we can recognize true Christians, His true followers.

He describes it very simply:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another,” (John 13:35).

That said, there are people in churches who are actually “tares among wheat” (Matthew 13:24-29) or “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:14-15). Jesus only really got angry with the likes of these. They are the ones that usually cause the deepest wounds and strife and pain. And that’s usually why the church gets a bad rap. But today! Let’s celebrate the true Church, who love and live like Jesus.

Celebrating Church Family

We’ve been part of vibrant, loving churches of totally different denominations as we’ve moved as a military family.

Southern Baptist churches that know and love God’s Word, that love to serve, (and they cook up THE best potlucks.) They’re like family to this day.

An International Anglican Church that showed us the poetry of Lectio Devino, the beauty of liturgy, and the power of community. They started when Rwanda suffered the horrors of the genocide, looked at America, and said, “They need God,” so they sent church leadership from South Africa and Rwanda to be missionaries in Colorado. They’re like family to this day.

We’ve also been part of an Assemblies of God church that taught me to not just believe God’s Word but actually experience all of what God promises by the power of Holy Spirit. They’re like family to this day.

We’ve been part of a church in the middle of the Midwest that felt like heaven on earth. Over 55 nations were represented, everyone from a doctor to a refugee. They translated the services into Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, among other languages. Worshipping and praying together was profound and heavenly. They too are like family still to this day.

A Prayer

Father,

I’m just brought to tears today by Your Transforming Love! That your love can take such wretched people with such dark pasts and wash us all clean. You can give self-centered people so much freedom and security that they become the most selfless, servant-hearted of people. Your unconditional love can cause people groups who would normally despise each other to love each other with a self-sacrificing brotherly love.

I’m so moved by Your Love and how much freedom and deliverance you’ve given so many people… that we would be capable of loving like you.

Thank you God. Your kindness truly brings us to repentance. And your love truly transforms us. Your truth truly sets us free. I’m in awe of You, Your Love, and the ways your people walk in your footsteps.

Afterall, “we will know if they are truly Christians by their love.”

And that’s a gift from You! May we continue to grow in the abundant life you’ve given us, the power of Holy Spirit, and the love of Jesus Christ.

In Jesus’ name, amen