“A new command I give you: Love one
another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By
this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35(NIV)
Proclaiming the
gospel to all mankind is a fundamental part of the mission of the Church. We
have no reason as a church of Jesus Christ to exclude and judge others because some of us
think others are sinners. We should open our mind and our doors for our beloved
friends who are rejected by their church community or their beloved church. The
inclusion of all people in our community enriches our ministries.
Brothers and sisters,
we must ever keep in mind that missionary work throughout the world requires
great sacrifice, and all of this sacrifice and efforts of missionaries may be
in vain if those who accept the gospel do not receive a loving and warm welcome
by the members of the Church.
“Do
all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all
the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As
long as ever you can.” John Wesley
We might ask ourselves how those who
are excluded, rejected because of how they are, thought about us. Think about
them in our wards would be treated if we were the only ones they ever met.
Every member of the Church should foster the attributes of warmth, sincerity,
and love for those who are different to us. As missionaries, are taught to do.
“Unless
God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the
opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you?
Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing!” John
Wesley
Brothers and sisters, members of the
church, let us make our wards to be friendly places, with no exclusivity, where
all people feel welcome and comfortable.
The church must open
its doors to become more inclusive and find ways to make itself relevant beyond
Sunday mornings. We need to speak the good news where people can hear it.
Plantation farm
“Though we cannot think
alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of
one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may
unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.” John Wesley
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