If you do not live a life marked by love toward others, the Bible has no encouragement for you to think that you’re a Christian. None.
Quoting from Stop Dating the Church (by Joshua Harris):
“To be part of the universal church isn’t enough … Every Christian is called to be passionately committed to a specific local church. Why? Because the local church is the key to spiritual health and growth for a Christian. And because as the visible ‘body of Christ’ in the world, the local church is central to God’s plan for every generation.”
Quoting Mark Dever from a talk he frequently gives on college campuses about the local church …
“… in the New Testament it seems that the local church is there to verify or falsify our claims to be Christians. The man in 1 Corinthians 5 who was sleeping with his father’s wife thought of himself as a Christian.”
(Then he gives various examples, including a church choir director having affair with the lead soprano; a member of the worship team who owns a porn bookstore … ) “These are examples of people who need to have the gospel clarified for them. They need to be told that they can’t claim to have saving faith and continue to walk in darkness (see 1 John 1:5-10). Our assurance of salvation must include a changed life. Confidence that we’ve truly been saved shouldn’t rest on an emotional experience or a prayer we prayed during an altar call years ago.”
Again quoting Mark Dever
“I don’t care how much you cry during singing or preaching, if you do not live a life marked by love toward others, the Bible has no encouragement for you to think that you’re a Christian. None.”
“In 1 Peter 2 we’re told to make our calling and election sure. How do you do this? One of the most practical steps we can take is to join a local church. You need the faithful teaching of God’s Word by pastors. You need the protection and godly provocation of having other Christians who are willing to challenge sin in your life. And you need other Christians whom you can love.”
“Do you want to know that your new life is real? Commit yourself to a local group of saved sinners. Try to love them. Don’t just do it for three weeks. Don’t just do it for six months. Do it for years. And I think you’ll find out, and others will, too, whether or not you love God. The truth will show itself.”
Responding to a young Christian who wanted to go on a private “journey” to have some spiritual experience—“just him & Jesus” …
“Going away is easy. Do you want to know what is harder? Do you want to know what takes more courage and what will make you grow faster than anything else? Join a local church and lay down your selfish desires by considering others more important than yourself. Humble yourself and acknowledge that you need other Christians. Invite them into your life. Stop complaining about what’s wrong with the church, and become part of a solution.”
(For more encouragement and practical helps for life and love in the church, I hope you will consider visiting our Redeeming Church Conflicts site. It contains a plethora of theologically-rich, imminently practical articles that you can read for free!)
