Do We Need Another Bible Study?
In the early days of our covenant Christian community, we met in a large, covered porch room that is attached to my house. The wife of a Pentecostal pastor attended one of our community meetings. After the meeting, she said to me, “What this group needs is a Bible study!” My reply was something like: “We’ve studied the Bible plenty. This is a Bible application group!”
Decades later, I am still of the opinion that we study too much and apply too little. So, do we really need another Bible study? On this topic, yes! In my opinion, love of the brethren or “love one another” has not gotten the right kind of emphasis in study and teaching. It definitely has not gotten the right kind of application. We do run the risk of over-emphasizing or over-studying the topic and not really applying it; or we could study it forever and ignore other important truths. Remember, a person who has read every book on swimming probably has yet to get wet!
Knowing these concerns, we continue our study. When members of the body of Christ are spending more time together, having meals together, worshipping together, recreating together… then we’ll know that we are making some progress.
The First in Light of the Second
In Part 1 of this series, I mentioned that the heaviness of the first commandment can make the second seem like an afterthought. “…whole heart, whole mind, whole soul” seems so deep and vast that “as yourself” seems to diminish the love of neighbors. Then I remembered that I do love myself with my whole heart, my whole mind and my whole soul!
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
1 John 3:16
Many of us are familiar with John 3:16 which tells us, “For God so loved…” This passage (1 John3:16) from the first letter of John tells us that we should lay down our lives for the brethren.
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.
1 John 3:14
This passage lists love of the brethren as a sign that we have passed out of death into life. To summarize here, it is clear that our measure of our first commandment response is seen by our love of the brethren.
A Pentecostal Conundrum
Pentecost resulted in the first Christian church. The first church was Pentecostal: gifted and powerful. There were miracles and signs and wonders. They also loved one another.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.“
John 14:12
“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts,praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47
I suppose that you then could say that Pentecost produced (at least) two noticeable effects: the founding of the church and an outpouring of spiritual gifts.
When the charismatic renewal hit the larger denominations in the 1950s and 1960s, we were mostly attracted to the spiritual gifts. We already had churches, so the new Pentecost led to a focus on greater works, not greater love (with some notable exceptions).
“Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.”
1 Corinthians 12:30-31
This simple passage is like a ball pen hammer to the forehead to those who had an exclusive focus on the baptism of the Spirit for spiritual gifts. I have read numerous books and articles on the gifts of the Spirit. I have gone to a number of weekend conferences and even traveled across the United States to attend a conference that promised to increase my spiritual power… Now Paul is saying that he has a better way? I have too much time invested in the gifts and power way! Do I have enough time and energy left to learn a better way? Would it be even childish of me to stay in the gifted and power mode?
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:12-13
So what am I to do? Are there books on love of the brethren? Can I travel across the U.S. to attend a course that gets this right?
“Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.”
1 Corinthians 14:1
The answer is not a course, or a book, or even a single spiritual experience. A kiss is an experience; a marriage is a relationship… of commitment, support, encouragement, purpose. What is needed are networks of relationships that support discipleship and mission.
There is a revival taking place right now among young Gen Z people. We need to be postured and structured to receive that new life, just as a good marriage welcomes children.
Questions for discussion:
- In what ways do we love ourselves with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength?
- What are some practical ways we can love our neighbor as ourselves? What should that look like?
- Jesus laid down his life by dying on the Cross for us. How do you think he expects us to lay down our lives for one another?
- See Part 1: Love of the Brethren, a Bible Study Series
- See Part 2: Love of the Brethren, a Bible Study Series
- See Part 3: Love of the Brethren, a Bible Study Series
Top image credit: Collage of Bruderhof communities shared life and care for one another – young and old. Images captured from Bruderhof YouTube videos, courtesy of Bruderhof.com.
Bob Tedesco is a profound teacher and prolific writer on building Christian family life and community in the light of Christian truth, Biblical wisdom, and the call to live and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. Check out his previous articles and books in the Living Bulwark archives.