Why the love?

     Imagine:  A solid-framed, silver-haired, 79 yr old man walking with intentional pace up a handful of broad stairs on his way to standing on a large platform alone, prepared to present truth from the Living God, as he has done nearly every Sunday morning at 8:30am for the last 50 years....5 decades. Some in the building have been present for nearly all of it.  Most certainly is his supportive, loyal wife sitting on the first row with her petite stature barely reaching the floor looking and listening intently with respect and gratitude.  He comfortably stands behind a large wooden pulpit as he has done over 3,500 times and simply offers: "Let's open our Bibles". The 84 yr old music leader, having just finished leading the parishioners in an all-three verse congregational singing of  "My Jesus I Love Thee" supported by a merry group of 1980's burgundy choir robes worn by dozens of septuagenarians of all makes and models, often being helped along the stairway by twenty-somethings living in Southern California without family nearby.  Local amateur, former high school or college and some professional musicians, without fanfare, play  String,Woodwind & Brass instruments melodically;  offering a mindful classical-type rhythm together with a grand pipe-organ, played by a Banker.  No bravado, no resume hierarchy.  The large room is fully lit. No screen flashing PowerPoint graphics. 

 Seem old-fashioned?  Needs updating?  How about boring?

Psalm 145
I will extol You, my God, O King,
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,
And His greatness is unsearchable.

 One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.

 Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts,
And I will tell of Your greatness.
They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness
And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

     Pew after pew is full of every possible people group, age, gender, ethnicity, etc..  Aged retired plumbers next to successful hedge-fund managers.  A single Mom and child sharing the row with a Hollywood video editor.  It's a microcosm of the melting pot called Los Angeles.  One of the most transient cities in world. Over 40 biblically qualified (1 Tim, Titus, 1 Peter) Elders, men of various backgrounds; Lawyers to LAPD, Contractors to Computer Programmers, are interspersed in the congregation with their peers.  They likely finished a week of working their full-time job to fulfill their responsibility and provide for their family, then shepherding the people, directly and indirectly, day in and day out, through life's struggles and joy.

     Some men attending, prefer the reverence of wearing suit & tie while others are more casual.  Many women are in a Sunday good, but not necessarily best, dress.  Distinguished care and confidence in their God-given design.  No pomp, no circumstance.  A refreshing gathering of hearty and confident masculine men, gladly joined alongside by the unique beauty of feminine women and tended-to children.  No apologies.  At this point, they don't care what the world has to offer or say. The people, in a way, are basking in the glory of God's distinct love and design for the Church.  God's Holy Word produces a love unmatched.  It is defined by a care, concern, joy and affection for fellow Christians, for their Pastor, the youth mentors of their children, for the whole church.  The campus, their Bible, the pews, the coffee shop.  These people have been given a love for the church, their church; because they are the Church.  1 Corinthians 12:27 says "Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it."  They love each other without even realizing it.  

     The Church, as the body of Christ, has become in many ways life-giving.  A natural outflow of a mind transformed by the Word of God is this unique heart affection.  It's hard to explain to the world.  It is not awkward or forced.  It does not meet a requirement or agenda.  The church is not their Savior, it can't be and they know it.  The people of God just love it.  A refreshing break from the hectic pace of the "city of Angels".  A quiet respite of being washed in the Word, kindling the closest of friendships and affirming their heart's desire to walk day-by-day, another week with Jesus.

      And alas, the innocuous slump-stone walled Sanctuary is overflowing.  Year after year after year.  Two morning services and a distinct Sunday evening gathering.  Their first day of the week, each week, is set apart. Not to the mention the myriad of midweek groups, meetings, events drawing them back after a quick dinner or late work day.  Often, it is standing room only.  Not a shred of anything tantalizing.  The consistency has become a foundation for thousands.

      Young people & families all around.  In fact, they dominate.  There is family lineage whom have been there for all 50 years.  Same preacher, same Bible, same location, similar program.

      Grace Community Church is a tapestry of people, tied together by the unbreakable power of God's Word; the distinguishing truth of Scripture is strengthening, energizing, calming, navigating, converting, comforting the hearts and minds of thousands of humans, in desperate need of and now with a lovely desire to know their Savior.  The outflow of life and love in the local church is unsurpassed.  It elevates the attitude and mind of even the most listless, worn-out Angeleno. 

     I spent some time on the phone with Dad last Saturday morning.  It was just prior to a monumental Sunday.

Me: "Hi Dad.  What are you up to?"
Dad: "Studying. Trying to put some final touches on my sermon."
Me: (I already assumed what he would be doing.  Some may be surprised to know, Dad very rarely recycles his messages.  He loves the study part.  In fact, he enjoys the study more than the preaching.) I joked; "I think you're ready.  You will do fine.  I called to check-in and see how your holding up on a busy weekend."
Dad: " I want the people to see that it's the work of the Word, not me that they love."
Me: "Actually Dad, they love you because you give them the Word;  to feed the soul with the only food that satisfies, produces an affection you cannot prevent.  They love you because they have come to know and love God's Word.  It's one of the unique characteristics of a transformed life."
Dad: "Yep.  It is a gift....  We love because He first loved us."

     We talked for a bit longer, enjoying some stories of friends and family that had come to town to be part of the 50th anniversary celebration.

     Reading and studying the Pauline epistles, this tangible dynamic is understood and observed, but not necessarily directly addressed.  I think because it is so very natural and intuitive to the life of the church, they think it normal. 

     Take a moment and read this section of Philippians with this thought in mind, you may see it in a new light.  Paul seems to be describing a profound attribute of the new birth.  The Church is just getting started.  Paul sets the framework for them.  It is different than what they observed of the Temple from a distance.  They did not have the strong ethnic ties of Hebrew ancestry.  This kinship is new.  While his letter is instructive and includes commands, the words are simply understood and welcomed. 

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

      So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

      Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

     People who are part of a Church; Grace Community or their local gathering  that is bringing Scripture, not personal stories and entertainment, to bear on their life will find themselves loving something in a way they had not before.  It becomes normal.  Actually, it is a gift.

Paul writes in Ephesians 1:

 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,  do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

     Awfully special to be part of that.....for 50 years!  The goodness of God is profoundly evident in the Church.  This local gathering took the opportunity to stop and celebrate it.  

Take a look, it's just a simple yet supernatural place:  Grace Community Church