The more I read about Jesus in the four Gospels, the more I realize that
the Christian faith, to its very core, is all about love. That God is love. And
that God wants to transfer his love to man.
"For God so loved the world..." (John 3:16, King James Version)
... that he gave his only begotten Son."
And in Mark 12: 28-31, that the most important of all the commandments
God has given man is to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with
all your mind and with all your strenght. And to love your neighbor as yourself.
Time and time again in Jesus' teaching to us about the kingdom of God, it is
love that is lifted up and emphasized. It is about love for God and about love
for one another. And in the 13th and 17th chapters of the Gospel of John, it is as
if Jesus summarizes his mission and puts everything in the hands of his disciples.
That from now on it is his disciples who will represent the kingdom of God
here on earth, by loving one another as Jesus has loved them. Yes, that the whole
mission of Jesus and the credibility of Jesus will be dependent of those who believe
in him. Whether or not they will love one another. Whether or not people by seing
them together will believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
With these Bible words ringing in my head, I think it is very problematic that it is not
more of love today in our Christian congregations. By love I mean the most basic of all
acts of love which is to listen to and show interest in another human being.
Because being listened to, seen and acknowledged belongs to one of man's most
basic social needs. A need that we are created with and when fulfilled, makes us feel
that we as individuals have a value. That we as individuals have a meaning and a
unique place in the universe.
When we therefore listen to another human being, we are not doing this just for our
own sake; to receive information we believe may be of interest to us. We are also doing it
for the sake of meeting another person's needs. By our listening we increase another
person's mental well-being. Listening to and showing interest in another human being is
therefore an act of love.
But...
No matter how much I want to, I cannot see that there is more love today among us
who are Christians than among people who are not Christians. After visiting and talking
to people in different churches and congregations, I can see nothing but the same
tendencies towards self-preoccupation that prevail in the rest of society. That so many
of us, in our talking to one another, are seeking and wanting other people's listening and
attention, while there are so few willing to give it. Who primarily make sure to have their
own needs met, but are not as anxious to meet others.
This, despite everything that Jesus during his time here on earth tried to teach us.
Therefore, I believe that the future of Christianity is entirely dependent on our love for
one another. I have tried to write about this more thoroughly on a site called,
Listening and Christian love. www.listeningandchristianlove.com
I do believe that we as Christians must show the world that Jesus' words are true,
when he in Luke 22:26, after describing the values that prevail in the world says to
his disciples, "But ye shall not be so..." (King James Version)
We must show the world that we who have received Jesus in our hearts belong to
another kingdom, another reality, where love and listening reigns. Where people are
not only making sure to have their own needs met, but are also willing to meet others.
That we can show the world that the human fellowship IRL, is still possible. And precious.
Stefan Andersson. Sweden.
the Christian faith, to its very core, is all about love. That God is love. And
that God wants to transfer his love to man.
"For God so loved the world..." (John 3:16, King James Version)
... that he gave his only begotten Son."
And in Mark 12: 28-31, that the most important of all the commandments
God has given man is to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with
all your mind and with all your strenght. And to love your neighbor as yourself.
Time and time again in Jesus' teaching to us about the kingdom of God, it is
love that is lifted up and emphasized. It is about love for God and about love
for one another. And in the 13th and 17th chapters of the Gospel of John, it is as
if Jesus summarizes his mission and puts everything in the hands of his disciples.
That from now on it is his disciples who will represent the kingdom of God
here on earth, by loving one another as Jesus has loved them. Yes, that the whole
mission of Jesus and the credibility of Jesus will be dependent of those who believe
in him. Whether or not they will love one another. Whether or not people by seing
them together will believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
With these Bible words ringing in my head, I think it is very problematic that it is not
more of love today in our Christian congregations. By love I mean the most basic of all
acts of love which is to listen to and show interest in another human being.
Because being listened to, seen and acknowledged belongs to one of man's most
basic social needs. A need that we are created with and when fulfilled, makes us feel
that we as individuals have a value. That we as individuals have a meaning and a
unique place in the universe.
When we therefore listen to another human being, we are not doing this just for our
own sake; to receive information we believe may be of interest to us. We are also doing it
for the sake of meeting another person's needs. By our listening we increase another
person's mental well-being. Listening to and showing interest in another human being is
therefore an act of love.
But...
No matter how much I want to, I cannot see that there is more love today among us
who are Christians than among people who are not Christians. After visiting and talking
to people in different churches and congregations, I can see nothing but the same
tendencies towards self-preoccupation that prevail in the rest of society. That so many
of us, in our talking to one another, are seeking and wanting other people's listening and
attention, while there are so few willing to give it. Who primarily make sure to have their
own needs met, but are not as anxious to meet others.
This, despite everything that Jesus during his time here on earth tried to teach us.
Therefore, I believe that the future of Christianity is entirely dependent on our love for
one another. I have tried to write about this more thoroughly on a site called,
Listening and Christian love. www.listeningandchristianlove.com
I do believe that we as Christians must show the world that Jesus' words are true,
when he in Luke 22:26, after describing the values that prevail in the world says to
his disciples, "But ye shall not be so..." (King James Version)
We must show the world that we who have received Jesus in our hearts belong to
another kingdom, another reality, where love and listening reigns. Where people are
not only making sure to have their own needs met, but are also willing to meet others.
That we can show the world that the human fellowship IRL, is still possible. And precious.
Stefan Andersson. Sweden.
