"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. "
That is my favorite Bible quote (in John) and seems to encapsulate Jesus better than any other quote, but why do I never hear or see Christians use it? It's there in your Bible, other religions would agree with its sentiments, it would probably even short circuit many atheists on this board, but you never hear or see it used. You hear about Leviticus, the Ten Commandments, Genesis, but never the one commandment Jesus gives to you.
Why?
2006-08-05 16:34:35 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
John 13:33-35
2006-08-05 16:41:49 · update #1
I agree with you- that is a great quote and we SHOULD hear it more often. He is the trouble though- those that are unbelievers , or claim Godliness without Christ and the true power of God are yelling this quote at the Christians without reading the rest of the Bible, and then there are the so called Christian extremeists that are shouting out the laws without compassion and mercy. The balance is understanding that true love DOES NOT mean tolerance- I can love a person but not tloerate their sin. There is never any excuse for abusing a person, treating them badly, cursing them or having a poor attitutde towards tham as if they were less than you- but at the same time there is never an excuse to justify sinful behavior, making excuses for what God calls an abomination, or even being proud of sin. If one were to really read ALL that Jesus had to say and what His actions were, they would see He walked a perfect balance of justice and mercy- He loved and showed love and compassion to ALL but He never once tolerated, said it was okay, made excuse for anything that God called wrong. So many people will say to me that because I say certain behaviors are wrong, I am a hater, I do not love as Christ loved, etc- but that is a lie- for example - my children - I love them dearly but when they behave poorly- they WILL be told what they are doing is wrong and there WILL be discipline. I cannot hold up any other standards except that which God has set forth and I will not tolerate or make excuse - even in my own life- what God calls sin.
2006-08-06 10:32:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
John 13:35
2006-08-05 16:40:16 · answer #2 · answered by sparkletina 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hear it all the time.
Love you neighbor as yourself and judge not les you be judged is probably one of the most quoted scriptures. Did you also know that Jesus said In John 14:6 " I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father except by me"? It isn't very popular because it is labeled with the new definition " intolerant". Its so funny in 100 years there will probably be a whole new definition of intolerant. it so funny how people grab on to fads and label it as truth and every thing else as rigid and wrong. what a Contradiction . Those who are so tolerant are not so tolerant of those they call intolerant. and there is no such thing as absolutes. Is that an ob solute. LOL Stop the world i want to get off
2006-08-05 16:40:04 · answer #3 · answered by Shane 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not believe that it is as important that you hear the quote, as it is important that you see it to be true among God's faithful disciples. If we are truly a disciple of Jesus, then love will always be flowing out of your heart; just as it was always flowing out of Jesus' heart. If we read the gospels, we see that Jesus' love was much more action than it was just in his Words. He said that we would know people by their fruits. In otherwords, by the type of life that we see them live. If we cannot see the love of Jesus being manifested in a person's life, then more than likely they are not his disciples at all. Anyone can say that they are a Christian, but it takes real love to prove it; the same kind of love that Jesus had. If we do not love one another, then I don't believe that we can be a disciple of Jesus. For Jesus is pure love.
2006-08-05 17:09:10 · answer #4 · answered by Calvin S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds kinda gay dude.....jk. You know I was wondering this myself. When I use to go to church, Lutherans tend to focus more on the Old Testament and never the new. And then (this was really resent) my boss (i know that's weird) approached me on the subject of the bible and Jesus. he introduced me to the new testament and i read a few passages out of there. and it was an eye opener because it's sooooo very contradicting to the old testament.
I'm not exactly sure why the new testament isn't focused on in most churches...I only have a speculation but I think it has to do with control by fear. if you keep the masses afraid then they will stay in line sort of thinking. very middle ages but it's only reason i can think of that makes any sense why they wouldn't practice jesus's teaching.
2006-08-05 16:47:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very simple: If Christians really loved others the way that Jesus wants them to, then they wouldn't be able to spend so much time criticizing others. They would learn the meaning of "forgive and FORGET". As it is, it's much easier to smile to somebody and pretend to take an interest in them, and then talk about them behind their back to another church member (... "now I'm only telling you this so you can remember Mrs. Jones in your prayers, but did you know her husband did ....") And they try to figure out to better reach the unsaved and how to do stewardship, when if they simply practiced what they preached, then things would go more smoothly.
2006-08-05 16:41:32 · answer #6 · answered by LaRue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is an intresting question you raise. Could it be possible that this sentiment is too difficult for Christians to quote. Perhaps it does not speak to the hateful way they act toward thier fellow man. It is easier to see people as demons rather than love them as Jesus commands.
2006-08-05 16:41:32 · answer #7 · answered by Kenneth H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps it's because most folks christian or otherwise don't practice it regularly so to acknowledge it they'd seem hypocritical at best.
If they act like it doesn't exist than maybe they can get away with bigotry, adultery, murder, and the list goes on. cause i really don't see folks committing those sins against people that they love they way God has commanded that we love one another.
2006-08-05 16:47:13 · answer #8 · answered by whatchaknowgood 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well,, it is not true that it is NEVER heard,,, but it is true that it is not practiced enough. And it does not say 'among ourselves', but it says 'each other', which is problematic in that it could mean exclusive to insiders ( as most interpret it) or it could mean everybody in the world ( as is more consistent with the rest of His teachings). There is a song that goes, "and they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,, they will knoww we are Christians by our Love" Everybody Sing!
There is also a verse in 1 John that says, "God is Love and whoever lives in Love lives in God, and whoever says that s/he loves God, whom s/he can't see, while hating their neighbor, whom s/he can see, is a liar"
2006-08-05 16:49:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bad Buddhist,
It's probably thje spiritual battle that takes place on these boards. Also, I think that there are responses of love here, maybe you don't see it.
As to using that verse more often; I think that it would take whatever the topic being discussed would take that verse out of context.
2006-08-05 16:45:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋