Loving What Christ Loves

"Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."
- Revelation 21:9

'The New Testament is clear - to love Christ is to love the church.'
- R. Albert Mohler, preface to Why We Love the Church

'Imagine how much it means to his heart as we, his betrothed bride, look forward to even now to that great wedding day to come, as we look to him in love, and as we live our lives to the praise of his name.'- Richard Phillips, The Church, One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, p. 132

'The church is not an incidental part of God's plan. Jesus didn’t invite people to join an anitreligion, antidoctrine, anti-institutional bandwagon of love, harmony, and reintegration. To be sure, He showed people how to live. But He also called them to repent, called them to faith, called them out of the world, and called them into the church.'- Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, Why We Love the Church, p. 226


Dear Christ Our Redeemer Family and Friends,

It is interesting to see the reaction of some Christians when you mention the church. Often there is an uncomfortable pause or an awkward glance. Love for the church has fallen upon hard times and curiously this is the case among many Christians. I'm under no illusion that the church can be a difficult thing to love at times, however, make no mistake, the church is loved by Christ. And as Christians we must love what Christ loves. Christ loves His betrothed bride. He has given His life for her and He continues to give Himself for her. His love for her is effectual, undiminished, unbreakable, strong, and eternal. To some Christians the church is an embarassment, an unfortunate and outlived appendage of a bygone era. To some the church only impedes true spirituality rather than fostering it. The reality is that true spirituality comes out of life within the church. The church is demonstrably loved by Christ. She may not be beautiful in the eyes of many, but for Christ He only has eyes for her.

May we truly love what Christ loves.

Pastor Dan