We must never forget that the church is a dysfunctional family. We are called to love the dysfunctional creatures within God's new creation. We are not only obligated to love the "lovable." We are obligated to love the "irritable." We fool ourselves if we think we have met our obligation to love by only loving those we "like" and are "comfortable with." This is not to love as Christ loves, but to love as pagans do! (see Matthew 5:46-47)

If our expectations for the church (or any group within the church) are too high, we are bound to be frustrated. We will refuse to love unless people are loveable. In the process, we ourselves will become unlovely. Furthermore, we will become more and more alienated from the very possibility of truly loving others as we flit about from church to church, group to group, in order to chase the elusive dream of a perfect church.

But if we want to have any impact at all in this life, we must lower our expectations to match the reality. We must learn to love the "blemished bride" of Christ. Only by doing this will we become a body of people who demonstrate the love of Christ to a lost world. For we cannot claim to love with the love of Christ unless we love that which Christ loves most -- His church! "Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25).

Are you looking for a ministry? Here is a ministry for you: Commit yourself to the edification and encouragement of your fellow brothers and sisters through your faithful presence, and steadfast love. Far too often we wait for a "program" in order to do ministry. In the meantime, we exempt ourselves from really ministering love to others in the present. We must change this mindset. Instead, we must view all of life as an opportunity to minister. It is easier to wait for a program and "serve" in fits and spurts; it is far more difficult to discipline yourself to consistently and compassionately love others.

Will you love as Christ loves by loving the blemished Bride of Christ -- His Church? Will you love her in spite of her sinfulness? If not, please do not claim that you have the love of Christ in your heart. Just as you cannot love me and hate my wife and still retain my respect and love, so you cannot claim to love Christ and spurn His Bride and still hold out hope that He will not be incensed by your actions. He takes His relationship with His Bride seriously -- and He defends her honor! Furthermore, He perfectly remembers every good and bad thing we have done to her. When we remember that we are dealing with Christ's precious Bride when we minister to the "dysfunctional" creatures around us, it will give us reason to "handle with care."

Perhaps the right kind of "idealism" is to love people in regard to what they will one day become -- perfectly glorious reflections of God in Christ. If we keep this in mind, maybe we will take each other more seriously and learn to love in spite of human sin and weakness.

© Richard J. Vincent, July 21, 2002