Our Love For The Brethren.....

[The Lemon]

I have mentioned on numerous threads that I have been in OP for 20+ years. During that time I have had so many experiences, and i have had the opportunity to observe many practices within the church and the church structure.

Having said that, I am wanting some feedback from some of you concerning the love for one another. I am sure we all are familier wth the scriptures that talk about how that people would know us because of our love for one another; also, the scripture that teaches that if a brother falls we should restore them.

It has been my experience that "saved" folks are more welcoming, patient, caring, and kind to the "sinner" then they are toward their own saved brothers and sisters. On one hand it makes me wonder if we are using the bait and switch to lure "lost" people into church...winning them to our theology and structure....after all once they have been there three times..."we got'em!"

I have seen ministries use people who would be thought of as unsaved or at least backslid on the platform to sing etc., but have also seen the same ministries shun folks who they have known for years and are saved because they were not "lining up" properly in some area...why is that??

It just seems that some people in the Apostolic Church have some dysfunction when it comes to really loving one another, much less restoring someone who has fallen. I realize this post has alot of broad generalities, but I have seen this pattern in more then one congregation, and am wondering if anyone here has ever seen or experienced this.

Maybe we are harder on each other because we believe we all should "know better", so I get that to an extenet, but the idea of making a stranger feel comfortable on a platform of influence while ostrasizing a brother or sister over disagreements or commitment level seems wrong to me. Anyway...