As we continue our series on ‘Building a Passion for God’s Church’, I thought I would share the wisdom of an old saint (namely C H Spurgeon) and a younger saint (Joshua Harris) on this topic.

In his writings, Charles Haddon Spurgeon comments:

· Stagnation in a church is the devil’s delight.
· A church is a soul-saving company or it is nothing.
· An unwatchful church will soon become an unholy church.
· We, as a Church, have had much reason to thank God, but how many more might within these walls have been added to the number of this Church if it had not been for the coldness of some, the indifference of others, the inconsistency of a few, and the worldliness of many more!
· Do-nothing churches are usually very jealous lest any should encroach on their domains.
· It has been said that Dissenters in years gone by placed the clock outside the meeting-house, so that they might never enter late, but the modern Dissenters place the clock inside, that their preachers may not keep them too long.
· Do not come in to weaken us, we are weak enough already. Do not come in to adulterate our purity, we have enough impurity even now. Pray that God may make you a real increase to our prayerfulness, to our holiness, to our earnestness, to our higher life, and then come and welcome, and the Lord be with you!
· The church is not perfect, but woe to the man who finds pleasure in pointing out her imperfections. Christ loved his church, and let us do the same. I have no doubt that the Lord can see more fault in his church than I can; and I have equal confidence that he sees no fault at all. Because he covers her faults with his own love—that love which covers a multitude of sins; and he removes all her defilement with that precious blood which washes away all the transgressions of his people.
· Beloved, if it had been possible to destroy the church of God on earth, it would have been destroyed long ago.
· The church of God owes very little to kings and princes and nobles. She owes far more to fishermen and peasants.
· I have known persons join the church, and after they have been a little while in it, they have said, “There is no love there.” Now, when a brother says, “There is no love there,” I know that he has been looking in the glass, and that his own reflection has suggested the remark.

Joshua Harris, on his blog, addresses some ‘wrong reasons to love the church’. He writes:

Do you love the church? Romans 12:10 tells Christians to “Love one another with brotherly affection.”

The affection and love we’re to have for fellow-Christians is to be based on the work of Jesus Christ for us. It’s not about elitism, it’s not because Christians are better than anyone else, it certainly isn’t because Christians are necessarily more lovable. We love the church because we love the Savior who redeemed the church.

Acts 20:28 tells us that Jesus obtained the church with his own blood. Is this what your love for the church is based on? If it’s anything less, it won’t last long.

· Don’t love the church because of what it does for you. Because sooner or later it won’t do enough.
· Don’t love the church because of a leader. Because human leaders are fallible and will let you down.
· Don’t love the church because of a program or a building or activities because all those things get old.
· Don’t love the church because of a certain group of friends because friendships change and people move.

Love the church because of who shed his blood to obtain the church. Love the church because of who the church belongs to. Love the church because of who the church worships. Love the church because you love Jesus Christ and his glory. Love the church because Jesus is worthy and faithful and true. Love the church because Jesus loves the church.

With love in Christ

Paul Dale
Senior Pastor