Love One Another

Love One Another
Gerald L. Sittser
Inter-Varsity Press, Nottingham 2008

Love One Another is an interesting book about the right attitudes and behaviour we ought to have for one another in the Christian church (and all too often are sadly lacking in it must be confessed).

The chapters are all good expositions of the subjects they deal with, though I felt that the book is far stronger in describing what our attitudes should be like than it is in advising or guiding how we might actually change our churches and ourselves to be like this.

Each chapter begins with a relevant Bible verse. Even to look at the chapter names and the verses is helpful in seeing the kind of aspirations we might have as Christians for the churches where we worship:

1. The New Commandment

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

Jesus' most fundamental commandment to his followers is both simple and profound - that we should love one another. The church is therefore a community of people who love each other. The rest of the book explores eleven ways in which we might seek to foster and develop our local fellowship as such a loving community.

2. Welcome One Another

"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." (Romans 15:7, ESV)

The most basic thing the church needs to get right is that when we see each other, or when strangers join us, we are to welcome each other. We have to actually be glad to see each other, and we are to make everyone feel that we value their company. Yet it is amazing how many churches fail in this regard.


3. Be Subject to One Another

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:21)

Christ commands his people to be different to the way the world is. We are not to "lord it" over each other. Instead, we are to submit to each other. We are to put one another's needs and one another's views and opinions before our own.

4. Forbear One Another

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (Ephesians 4:2)


Bearing with one another or forbearing each other means giving each other room to be ourselves, to express our doubts and fears, to sometimes fail, and sometimes disappoint. It is one of the most attractive qualities of a good Christian fellowship.

5. Forgive One Another

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:12-13)

It is inevitable in any group of people that at times people will do things they shouldn't and things we don't like. In such occasions, Christ and the apostles exhort us to forgive one another just as we have been forgiven for our sins by God.

6. Confess Sin to One Another & Pray for One Another

"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:13-16)

The Bible is at times admirably clear and it is often those clear statements that we find the most difficult to put into practice. But here James is clear we are supposed to confess our sins to each other - to admit when we've done wrong to those we have wronged. Confession is almost the mirror image of forgiveness in a healthy relationship. As well as confession, we are to regularly and always pray for one another.

7. Serve One Another

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'" (Galatians 5:13-14)

One of the most practical expressions of Christian love is in serving one another. Far too often the simple things like offering a helping hand is overlooked, but it is at the heart of the new humanity that Christ is building in the Kingdom of God.

8. Encourage One Another

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Offering encouragement, using our time with others to be positive and build them up, is another of those little things that is easily overlooked, but when present in a fellowship is like oil that lubricates and keeps the machinery working smoothly. It is something we Scots are very bad at in general. We could all do with giving more encouragement and accepting such encouragement when given in our lives.


9. Comfort One Another

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Giving comfort to others operates in a similar way to encouragement, but whereas the latter focuses on when things are going well or when we've done something good, comfort focuses on when things aren't going so well. We all need to be comforted at times of sadness, grief or regret.


10. Bear One Another's Burdens

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)

This is a practical aspect of loving and serving each other. Sometimes we just need to get stuck in and help people in practical ways. Often such help is more deeply appreciated than all the words we could say or offers of prayer we could make.


11. Stir Up One Another

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

The key words could be also be translated as "spur one another on" (NIV). It is a special form of encouragement and a real gift for a fellowship that has to be used with much wisdom and discernment. When others are in a period of stagnation or have become lukewarm, this stirring up or spurring on is a healthy prod to get them back on track and more active in Christian life and witness.
 

12. Admonish One Another

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." (Colossians 3:16)

Finally another gift for a church that needs to be used carefully and wisely. In essence it means that there are times when we need to gently point out to others where they have strayed and in a Christlike way seek to bring them back to faith and obedience to God's Word once more.