Bible verses…
I’m a Christian, and one of my biggest peeves as a Christian is dealing with those so-called “Christians” who just don’t get it. The “Christians” that protest at funerals, the “Christians” that say AIDS is God’s way of ridding the world of gays, the “Christians” who think the world would be better if we just got rid of all the Muslims, and Hindus, and Jews, and… basically the “Christians” who consider themselves holier-than-thou.
I have 2 favorite Bible verses. The first, almost everyone has heard if they’ve been to a wedding. I Corinthians 13 is known as “The Love Chapter.” It tells of the importance of having love in your life, of making love THE thing in your life. It emphasizes the fact that without love, nothing else matters (my apologies to Metallica).
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. — I Cor. 13:2
Like I said, most people, not only Christians, are at least familiar with this chapter. Love is patient, love is kind…etc. Another verse that’s a bit lesser known, but even more poignant in my opinion is Romans 13:8-10.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Could it BE any clearer than that? The Bible I was reading has footnotes and explained that “fellowman” is not the same as “fellow man.” Fellowman is a tranlation from the original Hebrew that means roughly “all inhabitants of earth.” Not just your neighbors, not just your fellow Christians, but EVERYONE! Paul goes on to explain that by living by one simple rule, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you can fulfill every commandment (and I love how Paul was just kind of like “And whatever other commandments there may be… I’m not going to list them all, you remember, right? Moses? Tablets? Come on people… stick with me here.”) 😉
Love does NO harm… Think about that… Kinda makes all those flower power people of the 60’s and 70’s sound like they had it right all along, doesn’t it?
3 comments October 10 2006 8:43 pm | Pepperguy | Grant
Preach on Brother G! It’s both amusing and sad that a large number of people who openly profess their Christianity do so by picking and choosing which tenets and Commandments to follow in their walk with the Lord. Jesus loved everyone, including (maybe especially) sinners and non-believers and God wants us to do the same. Tragedy struck the Amish community last week with a school shooting in a most unlikely setting. Their reaction – FORGIVENESS – was treated in our media as somewhat of a novelty. I, for one, admire their strength and courage. A complete faith and trust in God would serve this world well. As far as the “flower power” people are concerned however, I’m guessing “make love not war” was not quite what Paul had in mind.
Thanks Grant for sharing those thougts. I think this sums up some of my reasons for leaving the “church”, yet realizing how correct the bible may be.
I too was completely shocked with how the those of the Amish faith reacted. It was almost as if, in analyzing the situation, the Media thought they were wrong to feel/act the way they did. It was one of the most moving things I have read and witnessed and it was not fully shown in enough in its simpleness and power.
Good post Grant, I enjoyed reading your opening paragraph and taking to heart the bible verses. Some times I wish more ‘Christians’ acted more like Christians. Loving one another, caring for one another, looking out for one another seems like human nature to me, but often people let bottom lines, egos, and political ideals get in the way.