Practitioners

Here's an excerpt from "Practitioners":

"...relationship is really at the center of mission. Relationship with God, yes, but fascinationgly enough, relationship with each other as well."

"...maybe that's what Jesus was talking about in John 13:35 when He said, 'People will know you follow Me by [by what?] your love' -- what a novel evangelistic tool!"

"You see, if love's not at the center of our mission, people might be joining the Church, but I don't know if they're meeting God."

Whoa!
What a powerful image!
"...people might be joining the Church, but are they meeting God?"

I feel like this has been one of the biggest problems with Christianity today.
Sure, lots of people join the Church. We put on a big show to make sure that happens.
But are they really meeting God?
Are they practicing the love? ...for God as well as those around us?

After all, isn't that what being a Christ-follower is all about?
Loving God and loving our neighbors?

(back of a t-shirt worn by one of Thai Christ-followers)