Posted on 04/05/2008 6:04:21 AM PDT by DouglasKC
Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” And His primary commandments were: Love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Amen. All the law and prophets hang on these two commandments:
Love
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Love God----------------- -----------Love Neighbor
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Commandments 1-5 Commandments 5-10
I like how it is put in the Gospel of John, chapter 21 when the Lord is forgiving Peter. Jesus asks him, “Lovest thou me, Peter?” And the Greek word for love used is “agape,” or self-less, unconditional love. Peter’s response was, “Yes, Lord. I love you.” The Greek word used is “philios” or brotherly love.
God knows my expressions of love to him often fall flat and meaningless in light of my every day living. It’s weird, but what comes to mind right now is that sham of an opera Jesus Christ, Superstar and the song, “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” The kicker is that He knows all this about me (and more) and continues to love me! Well, that just makes me want to surrender (or try to) just a little bit more every day. 1John is a wonderful piece of scripture for thinking of this, written by the man who referred to himself as “the disciple whom the Lord loved.”
I suspect that everyone comes up short when it comes to loving him. And I agree that it is remarkable that he continues to love us in spite of our shortcomings.
Bump for chuck...
If love of God is shown by keeping His commandments would not the reverse be true then? Those not keeping His commandments would be showing that they do not love God? No matter what they claim or call themselves?
Sadly I must paraphrase, but Saint Francis of Assisi exhorted us to spread the Gospel, when necessary, use words. The example of living one’s Faith speaks more of our Faith, then mere Words.
The concreteness of living our faith touches people much more deeply than what we say.
Words are easy.
This reminds me of one of my favorite scenes in "Brother Sun, Sister Moon."
Bernardo has returned from the Crusades and has sought St. Francis, newly converted, in the little chapel of St. Damian which Francis is rebuilding.
Bernardo walks into the building, in the snow, and sees Francis rebuilding the church, one brick at a time, barefoot.
Bernardo walks up to Francis and asks what he can do to help.
Francis pauses, looks across the snowy landscape, and responds,"Words, Bernardo. There was a time that I believed in words."
Bernardo then gives away all he owns and follows Francis.
Fifth command is in both columns?
/c:
There may barely be something to that, if it is understood that words are ALWAYS necessary.
That is, if we’re speaking of the Gospel of God (John 5:24; Romans 10:17).
Oh, we are certainly called to use words, but as the first poster pointed out, Actions do speak louder than words. While we are relaying the Message of God in the Gospel, if we aren’t true ourselves to what we preach, it negatively impacts our message. Perfect example of this are certain Catholic Bishops, some prominent Televangelists, etc. Our Actions do say a great deal.
Excepting that I don’t think there are any Roman Catholic bishops effectively pointing to the gospel of Christ, I think your statement is absolutely correct.
My concern is just that I don’t want anyone going to Hell, admiring me for my fine life (?!), never knowing why I live as I do because I’ve smugly decided not to tell them the saving Gospel of Christ.
Actually my statement about some Catholic Bishops and Televangelists was that they are bad ministers of the Word and for Christianity because their lives do not conform. But the principle of the statements remains, Words are necessary, but Actions speak so loudly.
Your concern is well taken and justified. Witness (Actions) and Evangelization (Words) are necessary, but it is important to know that we do not cause the conversion, we are instruments. In light of that, our Actions may be all He desires, and it is His will that someone else proclaim the Word.
Yep. It isn’t an either/or... or Christians’ aim should not be at either or or... er, if that’s clear enough.
Do right and good. Not wrong and evil.
Well there is no "if" on the first part.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
The larger part of the equation though is that the sacrifice of Christ and the indwelling of the holy spirit is the only thing that allows "us" to keep his commandments. And even then, it's not "us" doing it, but it's letting the spirit of Christ live in and through us, subsuming our will to his.
Therefore those who do not have God's spirit are in this category:
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
I agree. Actions speak louder than words.
I agree. We submit and obey when we love and trust. If we're submitting and obeying out of, for example, fear, then that's not really obedience. It's like obeying a law only because you don't want to get caught when secretly you would love to break the law.
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