Summa Ecclesia

"Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." Mark 9:50


"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34


"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35


"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12


"This I command you, that you love one another.” John 15:17


Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor... Romans 12:10


Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Romans 12:16


Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8


Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. Romans 14:13


So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Romans 14:19


Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus. Romans 15:5


Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. Romans 15:7


And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. Romans 15:14


Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. Romans 16:16


Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 1 Corinthians 6:7


(husbands and wives:

Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 1 Corinthians 7:5 )


So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 1 Corinthians 11:33


...so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 1 Corinthians 12:25


All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
1 Corinthians 16:20


Greet one another with a holy kiss. 2 Corinthians 13:12


For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13


But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. Galatians 5:15


Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:26


...with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love... Ephesians 4:2


Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.
Ephesians 4:25


Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32


...speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord... Ephesians 5:19


...and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Ephesians 5:21


Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;... Philippians 2:3


Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices. Colossians 3:9


...bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Colossians 3:13


Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16


...and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you.
1 Thessalonians 3:12


Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.
1 Thessalonians 4:9


Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:18


Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11


...and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:13


See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 1 Thessalonians 5:15


We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater. 2 Thessalonians 1:3


For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. Titus 3:3


But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13


...and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds... Hebrews 10:24


...not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:25


Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. James 4:11


Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
James 5:9


Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16


Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart...
1 Peter 1:22


Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 1 Peter 4:9


As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10


You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.
1 Peter 5:5


Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ. 1 Peter 5:14


...but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7


For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:11


This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 1 John 3:23


Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7


Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:11


No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12


Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. 2 John 1:5


(All citations N.A.S.V.)

Distemper of the Times

If there is a temper of the times, there is a distemper of the times. In the American Church today, our distemper is factionalism, a work of the flesh posing as spiritual strength.

Most American Christians accept as a matter of course that "we" are surrounded by enemies: secularists, "liberals," socialists, a legion of evil-doers and evil-thinkers who are intent on destroying "Christian values," and determined to take our God-given liberty from us. To a Church which thinks itself besieged, combativeness seems the highest spiritual virtue, and those most violent in their enmity are hailed as the greatest defenders of the faith.

Church, grow up. We are surrounded by enemies because we have invaded their kingdom. Their realm is imperiled, not the one we belong to. Like the Allied armies after D-Day, we have enemies on all sides of us...because we are advancing into their territory. It's a dangerous place to be, and in human combat can go either way: but the Church' war cannot. Established by God Himself, empowered by His Spirit, chosen and prepared as the bride for His Son, the Church WILL NOT be defeated or destroyed. If that's your fear, skip ahead and read the last chapter of the Book.

Church, grow up. We are not called to be God's defenders: He is ours. God is our Savior: by what mad pride do you, powerless transient vapor, consider that The One Almighty and Eternal needs to be saved by YOU !?! In this battle, we must stand with God: but it's for OUR protection, not His.

Church, grow up. We indeed have liberty in God: but it's not the kind that can be taken away by the world's evil forces. In fact, our liberty is exactly from "the world's evil forces:" sin, hopelessness, and death. If you're fighting to keep "them" from taking your God-given rights, you're operating on the Declaration of Independence' idea of "liberty," not scripture's. When Paul wrote about "liberty," he was not urging Christians to fight for their "rights." Church, get serious.

We are not in danger of being destroyed...unless you disbelieve God's promises and His scripture. We are not called to defend God...unless you think your strength is greater than His. We are not in danger of losing our liberty...unless you think our culture's idea of liberty is truer than God's. Combativeness and enmity are not spiritual strengths; they are manifestations of pride and disbelief. They are exactly what scripture says they are, works of the flesh contrary to the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-21).

Church, grow up. Church, REPENT !!