LOVE THE BROTHERHOOD

Old time christians have a culture that is almost extinct in our time. They saw one another as brothers and sisters regardless of tribe, age or social status. I have been privileged to relate closely with some of them and you'll hear old men still refer to themselves as 'bro xxx'.

From scriptures, they understood that every child of God belongs to thesame family regardless of age, tribe, race, educational background and colour. God is our father and we can be sure that He has our best interest at heart. Even those who are pastors among them still prefer to be called 'bro'.

Today, some see it as disrespectful or derogatory when addressed as 'bro xxx' or 'sis xxx'. Some persons will reprimand and give you a stern warning to desist from such. They have forgotten that the blood that saved us connected us to become a family under God.

John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"( ESV). Halleluyah!!!

Now that we know we are connected by blood as brothers and sisters, what should we do? In the opening text, the writer of Hebrews enjoined that we love the brothers and sisters.

God demonstrated His own love to us by sending Christ to die for our sins (Rom5:8, John 3:16). Even when we fail Him, his love is the reason why we can obtain forgiveness.

Amongst some of God's children today, love has become one-sided and conditional. In some quarters, you are loved If you belong to a particular tribe whereas God didn't love us because of our tribe. Some persons still view other brethren from human standpoint. They don't see others as God sees them.

Apostle Paul says, "So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!"( 2 Cor 5:16 NLT).

The devil seeks to corrupt the pure love that we should have for one another because we evaluate men from tribal standpoint.
Another evil that is corrupting brotherly love is the demon of denominationalism. There are Christians that won't help you if you don't belong to their church, they may even demand you join them before they decide on what to do.

As far as God is concerned, we all belong to His kingdom and not a denomination. He relates with us as kingdom citizens; learn to accept everyone that is a Christian in love not with denominational bias.

Our denominations are simply expressions of the graces and mandate given to pioneers. God didn't intend they become cult-like in operation.

Bible doctrine is universal but our understanding and interpretation can never be the same but that is not enough reason to hate the brethren.

If your love for the brethren is denominational, tribal or cultural, you are not yet perfect in love.