The key differences in behavior between someone who loves Jesus and someone who loves the church can be summarized as follows:
- **Personal Relationship vs. Institutional Affiliation**: Those who love Jesus often focus on a personal, transformative relationship with Him, emphasizing daily prayer, Bible study, and living out His teachings[1][3]. In contrast, those who love the church may emphasize community involvement, church traditions, and corporate worship as expressions of their faith[2][4].
- **Priority of Love and Obedience**: Loving Jesus involves prioritizing His commandments and living a life that reflects His love and character[3][5]. Loving the church often involves commitment to its practices and being part of its mission as a collective body[2][6].
- **Criticism vs. Commitment**: Individuals who prioritize their love for Jesus might critique institutional shortcomings while maintaining personal faith[6]. Conversely, those who love the church may work within it to address issues and uphold its importance as Christ's bride[4][7].
Sources
[1] Loving Others Like Jesus Loves Us | The Worship Center https://www.theworshipcenter.org/blog/loving-others-jesus-loves-us
[2] Church Membership: Loving What Jesus Loves | For The Church https://ftc.co/resource-library/blog-entries/church-membership-loving-what-jesus-loves/
[3] What Jesus Loved - C.S. Lewis Institute https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/what-jesus-loved/
[4] Can We Love Jesus Without Loving the Church? - YMI https://ymi.today/2018/10/can-we-love-jesus-without-loving-the-church/
[5] Loving people towards Jesus | True Freedom Trust https://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/loving-people-towards-jesus
[6] Meet Those Who “Love Jesus but Not the Church” - Barna Group https://www.barna.com/research/meet-love-jesus-not-church/
[7] A Metaphor of Christ and the Church | Desiring God https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/a-metaphor-of-christ-and-the-church
[8] In Love? or In Church? https://gospellight.sg/sermons/in-love-or-in-church/