I have recently been reading several of the works of Francis Schaeffer. How Should We Then Live is a fascinating look at how Christian Philosophy developed over time, its struggle with humanism, and how it has been reflected in the arts, including architecture and the fine arts (painting, sculpture).
After being blessed by this book, I looked for more of his works, and came across The Mark of the Christian. In The Mark of the Christian, Dr Schaeffer draws a distinction between the commandment to love our neighbors in Matt 22:39 with the new commandment given in John 13:34.
Matt 22:37-39
“ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another
The commandment to love our neighbors has always been part of God's law (see for example, Lev 19:16). But the Jesus explicitly labels this commandment 'new' and note the reason given in v35: so that “men will know that you are my disciples”.
According to Dr Schaeffer, if we fail to show a special love for other Christians, the unsaved world in justified in dismissing the whole message of Christ, since the outward expression that they are to see is not appearant.
More Later.
After being blessed by this book, I looked for more of his works, and came across The Mark of the Christian. In The Mark of the Christian, Dr Schaeffer draws a distinction between the commandment to love our neighbors in Matt 22:39 with the new commandment given in John 13:34.
Matt 22:37-39
“ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another
The commandment to love our neighbors has always been part of God's law (see for example, Lev 19:16). But the Jesus explicitly labels this commandment 'new' and note the reason given in v35: so that “men will know that you are my disciples”.
According to Dr Schaeffer, if we fail to show a special love for other Christians, the unsaved world in justified in dismissing the whole message of Christ, since the outward expression that they are to see is not appearant.
More Later.