Is Belonging to Jesus a Positive Thing?

            I know my title question almost sounds blasphemous to fellow Christians.  But, I can’t help but wonder if those who are not Christians see Christianity as a positive.  Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).  This statement assumes, first of all, that to be His disciples is a good thing.  Secondly, it offers the condition needed to give Christianity a positive view.  They go hand-in-hand.  Without love for one another we Christians don’t present a very appealing picture to the world.  It isn’t just our lack of unity, it is our attitude toward others who don’t agree with us.  Instead of embracing diversity, understanding its strength, we often expect uniformity.  God didn’t create us that way.  He has made us each to be a unique individual.  This diversity is seen throughout His creation.  It is also seen in the New Testament church.  If we take an overview of all the different churches of the Bible, we see no two churches that are alike.  Each one stands out as an individual creation, serving the individual needs of its community.  Interestingly, they were not divided.  These Christians supported other Christians who practiced their faith in manners that were different.  There were some who held to some parts of the law, while others found complete freedom from the law (Romans 14).  Yet, the churches fellowshipped one another and loved one another.  They banded together against the evil of the world, renouncing what was clearly against Christ.  And, even in this, they projected a spirit of love.  Is it any wonder that the church grew then as it has never done since?
            I’m not saying that one should practice their faith in a manner contrary to their own conscience.  Scripture is quite plain on this (Romans 14:23).  What I am saying is that we should not withhold our love and fellowship from another whose conscience is not stricken by the same thing.  Consider the context of that last passage of scripture.  There are weightier matters than those most Christians are divided over.  We are living in a world that is calling right wrong and wrong right, a world that is embracing sexual perversion, murder of unborn babies, Satanism, pagan religions, etc.  If all Christians were to band together and promote the simple gospel of Jesus Christ, endeavoring to bring salvation to everyone, we would not live long enough to reach all the lost.  Indeed, it is a fact when Jesus says, “...wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Matthew 7:13).  If we were to take all professing Christians in the world, the number would be small in comparison to all who are lost.
            I came to the Lord when I was a grown adult.  A fine Christian couple loved me when I was very unlovable, and the led me to the love of Christ.  I have now been a Christian for more than thirty-five years.  However, if this couple would have tried to convert me to a church they would have fallen flat on their face.  Because, when I looked at the church from a worldly perspective I didn’t differentiate between one denomination and another, or one non-denomination and another.  I simply saw a lot of people who called themselves Christians, wanting to share the love of Christ with me, while looking at each other with anything but love.  It was (is) ugly and repulsive.  I think this is why Jesus placed such emphasis on our loving one another.  He knows that without that love for one another, we become nothing more than religious hypocrites.  And, if people see us as His disciples, they see a distorted view of Christ, instead of the Christ we are privileged to know once we obey the gospel.  When we fail to show our love for one another, we shoot ourselves in the foot.  Our words of love to the world become empty and hollow, without true meaning.
            So, yes, belonging to Christ is a positive thing.  I know that, and my fellow Christians know that.  I just want the world to know it too.