Lacks Love (was Re: agree with caryle clear hypocrisy)

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Bro Tyler wrote:

| I'd say that if a church *lacks love* ... there's little to entice
| the new saint to stay there.  Regardless doctrinal purity.  If they're
| treating her badly.  She should move on.  I can't fault her a single 
| bit.
<snip>
| Yeah... that's correct.  Just as nobody can make us *love* God and
| make us turn our lives over.... we have to be willing to give up on
| God as well.  
| 
| B-b-b-b-b-b-but at the same time, if she suffered hurt at the hands
| of those that call themselves *christians* ... what conclusions is
| she supposed to draw if other christians don't treat her with respect
| and love?  If christians don't treat her with respect and love, then
| God might not as welll either.  What's the motivation to stay with
| God if those around her didn't show what it was like to be a true
| christian?  

I couldn't agree more.
Theres an "oldie" that Janet Haynes sang:

"You're the only Jesus some will ever see...so let them see in you, the One
and Only God they'll ever need."

Sometimes, I'm embarrassed to call myself "Apostolic" because of this.  The
first reaction people have is a negative one.  And it is NOT becuase of the
doctrine, it's because of the people.  

I see Pentecostal (Apostolic) people walking in the mall or somewhere and
they have the most sour expression on their face.  I make it a point, when
I'm dealing with strangers especially, to SMILE!  After all, we want the
JOY of this new life we've found to SHOW!!!!!   :-D  

It isn't just looks, either.  It's the whole "superiority" complex, too
that turns many people away from discovering the truth.  I cannot and will
not blame that on the person who is lost.  I can look at this from the
perspective of someone on the "outside" because I've been there.  Why on
earth would I want to belong to a group that looks down their noses at the
rest of the world?  Or worse yet, shuns someone who IS saved because that
person doesn't "conform" totally to a particular view of "holiness" (and
they are particular and vary from church to church).

We are indeed the only REAL Jesus some in the world will EVER see.  Let's
show it with love and compassion (not compromise) and forgiveness, just
like Jesus! :-)  Let's show it with care for our community and those less
fortunate than us! :-)  Let's show it by displaying LOVE to members of our
churches and visitors, instead of judging them on superficial grounds. :-) 
Let's show it by caring enough to take at least one evening a week and
devote it to outreach (either individually or as a group)!  :-)  Let's do
it!  :-)

Anneliese
(sorry, venting again) :-)