And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV)

There is a mistaken idea that the more you do, the more God loves you. As such, we can believe in the gospel of God's grace and still pursue a work-based performance-driven relationship with God. This can be seen by our need to measure our acceptance and significance by how busy we appear to be and how many things we are involved in.

Most of us are in desperate need to discover and rediscover the gospel again. When we learn and understand God's view of grace, we will stop this pathological need to be performing for approval either from God and others. If we don't curb this unhealthy habit, we create a church culture that overemphasises our actions over God's actions.

It is a disaster when church becomes another thing on the "to do" list.

When serving and relating with our brothers and sisters in Christ is ego-driven and not Spirit-led, it actually impedes our true call and purpose. If ever a believer or a church could be said to fully embrace the gospel, it will show in how they see and treat others. As far as the gospel goes, we are not called to be competitive but cooperative, not contentious but compassionate and not condemning but forgiving.

Of course, it would be naive of us to think we won't get tested (again and again) by people and situations inside and outside our church community that seek to undermine the gospel and tear the fabric of love and grace. This is why the church must focus on authentic relationships, not just on events and meetings.

If we fill our time to do easy things like organising programs instead of the hard things like restoring and rekindling broken friendships, then we are not the kind of church God desires for us to be. In the words of the Apostle Paul, we are to do good to everyone, especially to those who are in the household of faith.

Without repentance, our default action is to leave for another church the moment relationships become tenuous. While we may give the often quoted excuse that the other church has a better program going for us and the kids but the real reason is that we are running away from our problems and excluding God from giving His grace for us to freely forgive and reconcile with each other. Then, we are not doing good towards each other and for each other. When we don't take this God-given opportunity to learn important relationship lessons together, we are bound to learn them again sooner or later. And it won't be easier or less costly.

By shifting away from a performance-based relationship to a grace-focused relationship with our Heavenly Father free of guilt, shame and condemnation, we can extend this freedom to others as well. And it will make a huge difference in the way we do church.