First Baptist Church of Herndon

What's Love got to do with it?

Linda Soller | Feb 15, 2016

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. Remember when we wrote our name on the little paper valentines and distributed them at school? We were expressing friendship love, often in funny ways. We crunched on the little candy hearts with the very brief statements of love, like “Be Mine”. As we got older we started to pull back on the number of Valentine cards we gave out. The word love took on a different meaning, it felt more significant, more profound, and it carried a higher level of commitment. As we grew up we had a new understanding of the word love.

I was participating in a conversation with friends about our churches, and without even using the word love, we talked about its place in church and the impact of when it’s missing. One friend said they were considering leaving their church because members seemed more focused on making trouble for the minister than worship. Those members seemed to have a selfish love. Another spoke of a time when members of their congregation left their church because they felt the minister was getting too much forgiveness, understanding, or was it love? They saw the nurturing as a negative. It was impacting the business of the church. Still another spoke of loving a way of worship embraced by their denomination, but it was not enough love, for them to embrace the congregation closest to their home.

We all seek different things when it comes to faith and to worship, but make no mistake, LOVE has everything to do with it. What we love impacts where we place value. Do you love a good sermon? Do you love a nurturing minister? Do you love church music? Do you love anonymity when you go to church? Do you love fellowship? Do you love convenience of location or worship time? Do you love being part of something big or something small? Do you love to be challenged or do you love to feel safe? What do you love?

As the new church grew and the disciples spread out they consistently spoke of love. They spoke of taking care of the needy, of followers not arguing amongst themselves, of working together, and of the love of God. They knew the life of the church and the future of the Christian faith relied on an abundance of love. We can easily become complacent and unwilling to work at our faith, but work at it we must, for we are all in need of improvement and strengthening. We all need love.

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day, and I wonder how many of us thought to tell God how much we love Him. I wonder if we are ready to work at our faith relationship with God. I wonder where you place value in that relationship. What’s love got to do with it? EVERYTHING! 

Have a great week filled with love!  :o)  Linda