“To the saints in Christ at Bundoora, who are faithful brothers and sisters”.
That’s how the apostle Paul greets the church in Colossae, of course writing to the saints in Colossae not Bundoora (Colossians 1:2 CSB). But more and more, that’s how I think of you all. The ministry team at Bundy have been reflecting in recent months on the nature of our relationships at church, the nature of our gatherings, particularly on Sundays. And we have been convicted that the language of ‘family’, is that which Scripture repeatedly uses, and which we want to use more.
This was brought home to us repeatedly back in May when we had writer, pastor and preacher, Sam Allbery speak to us. Sam spoke to the ministry team and members of the congregation on multiple occasions in May – at Belgrave Heights VCYC, Men’s Convention, the Pastors and Leaders Convention; then at the 5pm service on Sunday May 18th, and at the Bundy leaders Q and A time that afternoon. To add to this, the staff also have watched and discussed six TGC (The Gospel Coalition) zoom panel sessions on Christian sexual ethics which included evangelical and bible-believing leaders Sam Allberry, Rachel Gilson and Rebecca McLaughlin. It’s been very helpful and thought-provoking input from God’s word. Therefore, some of us heard lots from Sam Allberry over a couple of weeks and it was very edifying.
One of the key things Sam brought out from the Scriptures repeatedly, was how the New Testament describes the church in family language, and then how love is to define our relationships. At Bundy we remain committed to making disciples, to evangelism and discipleship. And at the heart of our relationships with God, unbelievers and one another, is to be love. For, as we remain committed to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), as part of that, we also want to remain committed to the Two Great Commandments – Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; and love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).
The ministry team have been thinking about, and I want us all to be thinking about, the love we show to one another. The Bible teaches us that by faith in Jesus we become children of God, adopted into God’s family (Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:5). We become brothers and sisters with one another. So we are all to love our neighbour as ourselves, yet we are particularly, and even moreso, to love and do good to fellow believers/ brothers and sisters in Christ (Galatians 6:10). 1 John chapter 4 speaks, in depth of showing love for ‘one another’, which flows from us being changed and convicted of God’s love for us (eg v7, 20-21). 1 John 4:11 says, ‘if God has loved us in this way (sending his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins) we also must love one another.
In our church, as sisters and brothers, we are to love one another, in words and deeds, actions and in truth. So I ask:
- How can we love one another more truly, more deeply, more consistently at Bundy? And how can you personally?
- Maybe one step is thinking and speaking more in the language of each other being brothers and sisters, sisters and brothers – family language?
- Then it means some intentional choices to treat one another as family, maybe initially one or two people. Let’s encourage one another in this goal too.
One helpful thing Sam Allberry pointed us to, was Romans 15:7. The NIV or CSB says, ‘Accept one another’, but maybe the best translation is the ESV’s, ‘welcome one another’. I hope we might think more about this and these things at our Bundy Big Day Away in October, but as Sam said, ‘accept’ is too weak a word. Christ has welcomed you, pulled you into his heart by the Gospel, in undeserved ways, and he calls us to do the same for others. To welcome them in all that that means, and to embody that welcome, as we invite people into our lives and homes. Where we look out for one another, serve one another, share our time, resources and love with one another. I hope and pray we’ll think more about these things in the months ahead. But can you think of a way that you personally might welcome another?
But I want to close with the words of our Lord Jesus speaking in that wonderful but challenging passage in John 13. After Jesus washes his disciples’ feet, he says:
34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Our love for one another, in the church family, should set us apart from other people, other communities, other clubs, in society. And our love for one another should be something that displays to unbelievers around us, something of the love of God and the power of God. It has been, and can be for us, something that makes the Gospel of the Lord Jesus attractive, and that helps us show the beauty and glory of Jesus. So as we approach our Meet Jesus Mission in August let’s be mindful of these things, and be loving one another now, so that, Lord willing, as more people come to Christ, they can be welcomed into a loving family community at Bundy.
There’s lots more thinking and action needed on this. But please pray that we all, your church family, your spiritual family at Bundy, would love another more and more. Pray it would be seen in our relationships, lives, words and witness. Listen out for this language from the front on Sundays, and we pray it continues to become part of the language, culture and experience of us all. As brothers and sisters, love one another. Maybe you could pause and pray for that now.
