11. It is evil in itself to separate ourselves from a body of living Christian
WESLEY:
It is evil in itself. To separate ourselves from a body of living Christian, with whom we were before united, is a grievous breach of the law of love. It is the nature of love to unite us together; and the greater the love, the stricter the union. And while this continues in its strength, nothing can divide those whom love has united. It is only when our love grows cold, that we can think of separating from our brethren. And this is certainly the case with any who willingly separate from their Christian brethren. The pretenses for separation may be innumerable, but want of love is always the real cause; otherwise they would still hold the unity of the Spirit in the bound of peace. It is therefore contrary to all those commands of God, wherein brotherly love is enjoined: To that of St. Paul, "Let brotherly love continue:" -- that of St. John, "My beloved children, love one another;" -- and especially to that of our blessed Master, "This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you" Yea, "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
PRAYER:
John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
REFLECTION:
Wesley writes - “With whom we were before united” and then says that “want of love is always the real cause”. Cause for what? To “hold the unity of the Spirit in the bound of peace” of our community. Simply, love one another. For John 15:13 makes it clear that dying to the “innumerable” reasons for disaffiliation reflects the greatest love. And by this, others will see that sacrifice and Glory in the Spirit of God. When we can hold the reasons for separation with all its tensions across our community we reflect a Love that IS GOD! We find the clarity of the Cross and the sacrifices of our Lord for all of us and the World. Clarity is the ability to see God’s commandment in our hearts… not through our fear or sense of losses; but in building each other up in the love of our diversity. God shines, not our pretenses.
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