This series has been interrupted a
couple of times, once by a study of Joseph (Gen. 37) and again by an
Easter-related study of the fig tree of Mark 11. Hopefully, the series will
continue uninterrupted until its completion. So far, we have looked at two of
five categories of evidences that define a Christian, Profession and Practice.
Once again, the purpose of the articles is to help answer the question “Who is
a Christian.” These are not intended to provide a listing of steps to becoming
a Christian or even to becoming a better Christian. This series of articles is
intended to define what a Christian looks like. I encourage you to respond if
you have any questions or need clarity on any point. Thanks.
PASSION
Another aspect
of the evidences from 1 John that stands out from among the rest is Passion.
More than any other single feature (16 times), John writes that a Christian
will love other people, especially other Christians. Of the 62 items that
define a Christian or a non-Christian, just over 25 percent of them refer to
the Christian’s ability to love others, in general, and especially love for the
brotherhood.
All but five
of these references to love include a reference to Christian brothers. This
means that a Christian will love other Christians, both male and female, and
will love the church in general. No person can legitimately claim to be a
Christian who does not love the church which is the body of Christ (1 Cor.
12:12-20; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 5:30; Col. 1:24).
A true
Christian will have a love for the brotherhood, the fellowship of other
believers, which means that he will love the church, which is the body of
Christ.
However,
this is not the first time that John recorded such a thought. In his Gospel,
John recorded that Jesus himself taught this principle to His disciples,
including John:
By this all
people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
(John 13:35, ESV)
Are you a Christian? Is some other
person a Christian? The answer is very simple: Do you love other people? Do you
love other Christians? Does that person you may have questions about love the
church? Note that this love is so much more than natural affection, or
friendship, or fellowship, or brotherly love. This is agape, the kind of intentional, willful love that is passionate and
sacrificial in nature.
In the early centuries of the church,
church members demonstrated a sincere love for one another and the people
around them, so much so that they directly impacted their culture.
Luke wrote in his history of the early
church (the book of Acts) that the people of the church lived in “wonderful
harmony” and were committed to life together, sharing meals at one another’s
houses, “every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God.”
Each person’s needs were met by the sacrifices of others in the fellowship.
Luke goes on to tell us that this love
for one another within the church was noticed by the community around them to
the extent that “fear came upon every soul.” In other words, the people of the
community where the church was located stood in awe of what they were
witnessing. The church had favor with all the people, meaning that “people in
general liked what they saw.”[1]
One commentator remarked that “the
humble and consistent lives” of the members of the early church “won the favor
of the masses of the community” and silenced opposition. [2]
Another wrote that the early church commended itself by its “lovely demeanor to
the admiration of all who observed them.” [3]
In truth, this should be the typical
reaction of a community to the church. After all, the church is the body of
Christ – the physical reality of the resurrected Jesus. In his first historical
treatise (the Gospel of Luke), Luke wrote of Jesus, “Jesus increased in wisdom
and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
In general, when people met Jesus, they
liked what they saw. Crowds followed Him everywhere He went, so much so that,
on occasions, He had to intentionally plan to get away from them for a time of
rest. One reason may be the level of compassion that Jesus demonstrated towards
other people. (Matt. 9:36; Matt. 14:14; Matt. 20:34; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13) And
His passion for His disciples and all believers is clearly demonstrated in His
pastoral prayer recorded in John 17.
This loving characteristic of the church
continued on through the 2nd and 3rd centuries, and
continued to awe the local communities. Tertullian, a major theologian of the
time, wrote of the early church “…it is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to
put a brand upon us. See, they say, how they love one another…See, they say
about us, how they are ready even to die for one another…” [4]
In his letter to the Roman Proconsul Scapula, Tertullian
wrote, “This is the rule
of our faith, that we love those who hate us, and that we beseech God to bless
those who afflict us; and herein lies that goodness which is peculiar to us. All men
love those who love them, Christians alone those who hate them… Christians have
no hatred or ill-will at any man, and least of all at Caesar; for knowing him
to be set up by their God, they must needs love him, and
shew him worship (reverence and respect).” [5]
In summary,
we have seen two standards in addition to a profession of faith for determining
whether or not a person is truly a Christian: Are they actively serving God in
obedience to His commands, and do they love others, especially other Christians.
PDF
EPUB
KINDLE
EPUB
KINDLE
[1] The references in these
paragraphs are based on adaptations of Acts 2:42-47 as recorded in the KJV and The Message.
[2] Barnes, Alfred. Barnes’ Notes. Online Bible Edition,
Version 4.32.01, July 18, 2014, Copyright © 1987-2014, Larry Pierce, Winterbourne,
Ontario, Canada NOB 2VO. Referenced hereafter as Online Bible.
[3] Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary, Online Bible.
[4] Quotation taken from
Tertullian’s Apologeticum. Translated by the Rev. S. Thelwall,
1869. http://www.tertullian.org/anf/anf03/anf03-05.htm
[5] Quotation taken from The Address of Q. Sept. Tertullian, To Scapula Tertullus, Proconsul of
Africa. Translated by Sir David Dalrymple, 1790. http://www.tertullian.org/articles/dalrymple_scapula.htm </span>
