Successful cultivation of a beautiful plant usually depends on the soil, and this is true of the development of brotherly love. In this case the essential soil is a regenerate church. It is so sad when a fervent ministry and a group of true believers tries to flourish in the midst of spiritually cold, self-righteous, nominal or indifferent people, because these have been admitted as members of the church without giving evidence of true conversion, and without having received the new nature. In such a case, real spiritual love can only exist among the truly converted portion of the members, thus producing an ungainly thing – a church within a church. The full expression of congregational love is inhibited.

We need, as teachers, to explain this love, and to apply the pastoral exhortations of the New Testament to hearts in encouraging and practical ways. We need, as leaders, to set an example of hospitality to all – not just to those like ourselves. We may need to quietly propose and prompt acts of hospitality among members, and to find kindly ways of dissolving cliques. We may also need to initiate visitation of the sick and needy by other members, teaching God’s people to watch out for each other.

A practical summary for promoting brotherly love

Congregational brotherly love will be advanced by the following acts, aims and attitudes, pursued in prayerful dependence upon the help of the Lord:

1. We must be utterly convinced that the promotion of brotherly love is an essential act of obedience to the command of the Lord.
2. We must view ourselves as children of God who have been placed by the Lord in a family, the local church, and charged to contribute to its peace, and promote its interests.
3. We must strive to make the local church a holy, beautiful and harmonious fellowship, fit to be the dwelling-place of Christ, by his Spirit.
4. We must believe that Christ requires us to worship, learn and serve him in a corporate way, as one body in Christ, and not to function in an independent manner, which is the sin of pride.
5. We must submit to the obligation to have the same forgiving attitude to our spiritual brothers and sisters that Christ has so graciously shown to us.
6. It must be our sincere aim to suppress self-love in all its evil aspects in order to cultivate unselfish, out¬going interest, affection and support for our fellow-believers.
7. We must make every effort to express affection and regard to others, both in warm greetings and friendliness, and in deeds of helpfulness and kindness.
8. We must also engage in regular intercession for our fellow-believers – for their spiritual and physical blessing – and do so in an intelligent way, taking account of their ever-changing situations.
9. We must ensure that we remain approachable by others, always at their disposal as members of the same family.
10. We must suppress gossip and evil-speaking, and keep unviolated that priceless bond which God has set between us, always keeping up respect, and protecting one another’s reputation.
11. We must be sensitive to the great responsibility which is upon us to keep ourselves pure in the matter of example, so that we shall not be judged for infecting the church with unbrotherly, unfaithful and corrupt relational attitudes.
12. We must drive away from our minds jealousy, envy, bitterness, evil suspicions, and all other attitudes which cause us to disparage fellow-believers without proper cause.
13. We must be impartial in all our relationships, and always try to ‘cast the net’ of hospitality and friendship to an ever-widening circle of people, and to different kinds of people, and not restrict our friendship to a few.
14. We must never abuse the local church fellowship by taking mean advantage of its affection, kindness and resources, and offering no sacrifice of service or care in our turn.
15. We must support as a matter of duty Christian service activities organised by our church, which both bring glory to God, and also promote fellowship, for these people are our people, and their God is our God, and to serve and fellowship with them is a leading duty and delight.