THE FIRST MARK OF THE CHURCH – LOVE

ALL SOULS CHURCH, LANGHAM PLACE, LONDON

As I begin to research the writings of my mentor John Stott (1921-2011), under whom I served at All Souls Church, Langham Place, London from 1967-71, for my projected book on his theology I will share some of his thoughts. The following is his commentary on the church at Ephesus, which he accuses of forsaking their first love (Revelation 2:4).

 Love is the first mark of a true and living church. The Christian life is essentially a love-relationship to Jesus Christ. Without this love, the Church’s work is lifeless. They toiled with vigor but not with love. They endured with fortitude but without love. They tested their teachers with orthodoxy but had no love in their hearts. Theological correctness: to hate error and evil is not the same as to love Jesus Christ. Again and again the New Testament reiterates its emphasis on the pre-eminence of love. Love is to fulfill the law. Love is greater than knowledge (1 Cor.13). Knowledge of a doctrine is a one-sided, static affair, while love is reciprocal and growing. Love is greater than faith and hope. Love is everlasting and indestructible. Love saves worship and prayer and Bible reading from degenerating into a mechanical routine. Obedience is the test of love (John 14:15,21,23). Genuine love longs to enrich its object not to possess it. Our own church’s light will be extinguished if we stubbornly persevere in our refusal to love Christ. The church has no light without love. Only when its love burns can its light shine. Many churches over the world today have ceased truly to exist. Their buildings remain intact, their ministers minister and their congregations congregate, but their lampstand has been removed. The church is plunged into darkness. No glimmer of light radiates from it. It has no light because it has no love.

(WHAT CHRIST THINKS OF THE CHURCH, p.28f.)