The Corinthian church has garnered a poor reputation over the centuries. And it is easy to see why in 1 and 2 Corinthians. There were issues of sexual immorality (1 Cor. 5), lawsuits among believers (6:1–11), misuse of the Lord’s Supper (11:17–34), false teachers (2 Cor. 11:1–15), confusion regarding spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1–40), idolatry (8:1–13; 10:1–22), divisions (1:10–17; 3:1–23), and more. Truth be told, they are like many churches today. Every congregation struggles with some, if not all, of these same issues, but it is easier to look at the Corinthians and be shocked—or even disappointed—by their troubles.

For all the bad associated with this church, and for all the heartache they caused Paul, this was one of the most loved churches in the New Testament. Why?

The answer is simple: Paul never gave up on them. He continued to write, wrestle, confront, restore, and lead them toward obedience. As much personal pain as they caused him—slandering his name, denouncing his reputation, questioning his ministry, accusing him of wrongdoing (2 Cor. 10–12)—he didn’t quit. Rather, he poured out effort to instruct them in righteousness.

The Power of Christlike Love

Paul does not seem to regret this effort. At the end of 2 Corinthians, after a lengthy section defending himself, he writes these remarkable words: “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls” (12:15).

This is an emphatic statement. Paul’s desire for them is such that he will exhaust himself—depleting all his energy and strength—for the sake of their souls.

What motivates him? There are two inseparable answers. He offers himself this way because of the Lord and because of love. The Lord has called him to this ministry, so he will obey (Acts 18:9–10). Because of his love for Christ, he is filled with love for them (1 Cor. 1:4–9). He loves them like Christ loves us—like a father loves a prodigal child (Luke 15:11–24).

Paul’s love was not abstract—it was personal. He knew these people. These were the people God called him to reach. He spent a year and six months (Acts 18:11) with them because God came to him in a vision saying, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people” (18:9–10). Paul had been rejected by the Jews and was determined to go to the Gentiles with the gospel (18:6). In the face of this rejection, the Corinthians emerge as the people God had destined to hear the gospel. Because they received that gospel, they were worth the pain and toil of correction as well as repeated visits (2 Cor. 12:14) and the multiple letters. God loves them, so Paul loves them.

This example shows the power of Christ’s love when it takes up residence in our hearts. We are enabled to sincerely love others even when they are messy, broken, sinful, and personally offensive. We love them here and now for who they are, not for who they might be. We hope they will grow in the Lord and we work toward that end, but we love them no matter what.

God Uses Imperfect Churches to Refine Us

Recently I read an encouraging article written by Bobby Jamieson in 2014 entitled Nobody Gets the Church They Want. Jamieson reminded readers that every church is broken and falls short of its goals. Every church is full of people still in the middle of their sanctification. Therefore, our relationships are challenging, our ministries are limited, and our holiness is a slow progression. Jamieson went on to say that perhaps God has us in these challenging situations for our own spiritual growth. Maybe God is teaching us patience, compassion, resolve, service, and kindness. Maybe God is refining our faith, teaching us to love like Christ—even teaching us to fight against our own pride. Too often we think we are in broken churches to make them better, but maybe God is using them to make us holy. Either way, God has us in imperfect churches because we are imperfect people, and these situations have a way of sanctifying both parties to be more like Christ.

So, what do we do when we find ourselves in difficult churches? Do we leave in search of a better church? That journey would never end. Do we wreak havoc and blow everything up, hoping the church will put itself back together better? That is both harmful and ungodly.

Instead, let me suggest that we live in the church with the same attitude Paul had toward the Corinthians: to gladly spend and be spent for their souls.

What if we had experienced the love of Christ with such potent force that we could learn to love even the most broken church? Surely Christ’s love enables us to sincerely love those who have different political views, have committed sexual immorality, caused divisions, struggle with drunkenness, mistreat the church, or are biblically illiterate and unrefined—to love the ones He loves. Surely Christ is giving us eyes to see the people of a local congregation as the ones for whom He died (1 Cor. 8:11). What if this radical kind of love was the key to showing off the glory, power, and beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 13:34–35)?

Such love does not absolve accountability. It is because of love that Paul encouraged the Corinthians to practice church discipline (1 Cor. 5:1–13). He is not advocating that the church, in the name of love, put up with those who continue in unrepentant sin. Instead, he is saying that as long as they struggle and repent, we should bear with our brothers and sisters by spending ourselves for their well-being (Matt. 18:21–22).

It is easy to complain, get angry, give up, or believe things will be better somewhere else. It is easy to accuse, despise, and ignore those who are difficult to deal with. Paul could have given up on the Corinthians because they were exhausting. Christ could have given up on us because we are worse than exhausting! But Paul, and even more so our Lord Jesus, spent themselves for the good of God’s people.

When Leaving Is Necessary

Unfortunately, not every church is worth staying in. Some compromise the gospel. Some twist God’s Word. Some permit all sorts of ungodliness. Sometimes the best course of action is to leave a church, to shake the dust off your garments (Acts 18:6). That is what led Paul to preach to the Corinthians in the first place.

But if a congregation, though woefully imperfect and chaotically organized, still loves Jesus, guards the gospel, and reveres God’s Word, then there is more than enough reason to stay, spend, and be spent for the sake of Christ.