| Teachings of the Church |
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In light of Mat 22:34-40 and I Cor 13:1-3, does the church teach in the same order or relevance?
Look at the list of teaching classes your church has planned for this year. As you look at it, ask yourself, "Is Love the most important thing?"
It is to God! When asked by a group of religious leaders what was the greatest commandment of all the commandments, Jesus replied,
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets."
I belong to a church that is a loving spirit-filled body of Christians and I know of many other churches just like it.
My argument is not that we don't teach in a Loving Spirit. It's not that we don't teach about things that relate to Love. I'm saying that if Love is the most important thing to God, then why isn't it the most important teaching of the church?
"Does the church teach in the same order or relevance that these passages suggest?" Or, if Love is the most important thing, then shouldn't love be the churches' most important teaching. Take time to look at Christian web sites around the world and Church curriculum and teaching titles... is love the most important teaching?
Or, think of the question this way. Why would I set under a teaching concerning... Tongues or Faith (for instance)... If I had not been taught about Love, first?
POINT: If we understand these passages correctly then we must believe that a class concerning the subject of love would always be available and most of the sermons would instruct us on what Love is and how to love.
Because, according to I Cor 13:1-13, if we have not loved,... Then we are a clanging gong... Or, whatever else we have done, if it wasn't out of or for the sake of "LOVE", we have done it in vain.
If, however, I take these scriptures to be foundational and teach Christian principals in the order of importance (as theses passages instruct us)... we find an interesting thing happens. For instance, If I have learned the elements of love, (from I Cor 13:4-8) and begin to operate in a spirit of love, then I no longer account for evil done to me. (one of the principles or fruits of love)
And, if I no longer account for evil done to me, then what instruction or teaching do I need on forgiveness? Forgiveness is what I wrestled with when I was a "child" in Christ... a new Christian. Now, however, operating in a spirit of love (God's Love) frees us from the childish ways we use to deal with things... everything, really.
This may be why Jesus ends the passage concerning Love with the (seemingly "out of place) reference to... "when I was a child..." When Christians learn this section of scripture and other teachings on the subject of love FIRST, they not only have learned the most important thing, but have leaped well ahead into their spiritual growth.
After learning to Love the way God loves, then we really are operating in Christ's likeness. We become powerful vessels for Christ's' ministry.
Are we trying to teach people how to love?... No! Without coming to Christ First, turning from sin, and receiving the Holy Spirit, no one can truly love!
So, is "Repentance" more important than "Love"? Let me answer the question with another question,... Can you teach repentance without Love?,... No! Besides, Jesus just told us that LOVE is the MOST important thing.
If we believe this, then the very next question we should have in our mind is,... What does it mean to love? Church!,... This is where you should say, "come, let us teach you".
I Love you. |
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