Personal Relationship With The Church And Its Congregation Series

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHURCH AND ITS CONGREGATION

50th Cornerstone Evangelical Baptist Church, San Francisco

By: Rev. Saumiman Saud *)

A healthy church is a church whose parishioners have a good relationship with the Lord. To establish a healthy relationship with God, it is necessary to always pray and read His Word. There is no shortcut. Such a relationship is a process that must progress with each passing day. Our relationship with others in the body of Christ is a similar process. If our relationship with God is not doing well, then our relationship with others will not be satisfactory either. Therefore, the key to harmony and peace with others lies in our relationship with God personally.

Our personal relationships with others at church are very different from our relationships with people in the secular word. The secular world offers great friendships, but the difference is that such friendships are established under secular common sense rules: If we treat others well, then they will treat us well in return. Christianity actually teaches something more that simple reciprocity. If others harm us, we must still treat them well; we must return evil with good, with the unconditional love that the Lord Jesus has shown for us.

Our hectic work schedules and long distances between houses can affect our personal relationships with church members. Fellowship in church becomes distant, and many people do not know one another. The active members of the church are often only the ones who live close to the church and whose job is not too demanding or tiring. This is why recently churches have initiated small group fellowships, or district group fellowships, in order to overcome the distance problem.

While it is tempting for a church to make all of their programs simply for the purpose of strengthening friendship within the church, without an attempt to build religious understanding and a good relationship with God, such programs will be meaningless. Such fellowship programs become merely a time to hang out and hear the latest gossip. Our Bible clearly emphasizes what it takes to have a good fellowship.

1. Harmony is created through mutual love

Mutual love in this case does not mean mere sympathy or sweet words; mutual love must be followed by action, as stated by John in 1 John 3:18: “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” (NIV).

Love comes from people who are truly willing to give their heart to others. It is not enough to accept this as merely a concept. Pragmatically, when we see others in need, we should spontaneously help them, whether it be with moral support or monetary support. Actions, rather than simply emotions of mutual love are the marks of true followers of Christ.

2. Harmony is created through mutual service

A famous philosopher could write grandiose words, filling thick books which give endless advice on how to raise your child, without ever having raised one himself. Words and actions do not always go together. We respect Christ because he is the ideal example of both. He humbles Himself like a servant as He tells others to do the same, wearing the clothes of a servant and washing the feet of His disciples. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15; NIV)

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Let us look at the Apostle Paul’s emphasis in Philipians 2:6-7: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Verse 6 emphasizes that Jesus is “in very nature God”. In Greek, the aforementioned quote was actually preceded by “to be” (thus translated ‘being’ in the likeness of God). The word used was ‘hyparchon’ (to continuously be), not ‘on’ (being). In other words, Christ has always been in the likeness of God. Even with such a high status, Christ has become a servant to His disciples.

It would be ideal if true mutual service could take pace at church, if no one ever said: “That’s not my problem”, “I’m not the deacon”, “That’s the pastor’s job”, “I’m not getting paid”, etc. True servitude comes from our love for others. If mutual service is not accompanied by love, then the church is simply a worldly social organization.

3. Harmony is created through helping each other

The Lord does not want us to be selfish and individualistic, this is why we should not ignore the tasks of God, which include testifying, having fellowship, and serving (Marturia, Koinonia, and Diakonia). Helping one another is certainly one of them as well. But what can we do to encourage others to reach out? If a church has love, and the members know they can depend upon one another, then they will not be shy or afraid to share their burdens and problems so that others can help and pray.