Sijo Chemmannur
Member
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" Galatians 5:6
A highly monastic and austere monk once gave a speech about Christ and Christian philosophy. He had practiced silence for 3 continuous years and was highly renowned for the theological knowledge. The venue was fully packed with audience and everybody were eager to hear him speak. He came on to the mike and said, "Christians should Love". He uttered one word and finished the speech with a sigh. There were long arguments about that speech. Some said, it was a metaphor. Other got furious saying the monk called us non Christians. A war broke out of Love..!!
Christian faith express itself as Love. It circumpasses the boundaries of law and divisiveness of doctrines. Hence forth, when we become one in Christ, we are no longer abide in the constrains of any law. Christ has set us free from the laws. This message is a clear inspiration of Holy spirit resonating many times through the apostles. What is the freedom of Christ is like? How we can question the infallibility of the old testaments from God? These are all questions many doctrines and disciplines of Christianity raise and frequently misinterprets.
In the midst of hatred and sinfulness, God must have been thinking for centuries, how to communicate and compliance with the human race which were out of humanity and humaneness. The stink of sin must have been too hard for God to approach the earth. But, His out-pour of Love to the earth circumpassed the constrains of barriers, so that He allowed His only son Jesus Christ to be born as a man in this earth. God gave His son Jesus Christ for us.
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Love is the fundamental message of God through Christ. Jesus Christ reiterated the message of living in Him through Love. The commandment of Jesus Christ is to Love one another (John 15:12). Unless we are living in the love of Christ we cannot do anything, and we will be pruned into fire. Through the apostles, Holy Spirit up holds the prime importance of Love above everything. Nothing matters, no rituals (circumcision- 1 Corinthians 7:19) or traditions (Jews or gentiles). There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). We are all one in Christ and hence there is no validity of any difference of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, language, religion, social outlook in Christian faith.
In his epistle, James critically analyse the importance of this outward expression of faith in Christ. A person in Christ can no longer sit idle or stop loving others. "I can see Jesus Christ in all the people" is what Mother Theresa said about the leprosy people lying in the filthy slums of Kolkata. We should analyse the expression of Love through our faith in Christ. It is not an outward imposition of law, or following a set of rules and regulations, but an overflow of love through Holy Spirit. No Christian doctrines or churches can no longer implement a law on fellow Christians. 'The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love'.
A highly monastic and austere monk once gave a speech about Christ and Christian philosophy. He had practiced silence for 3 continuous years and was highly renowned for the theological knowledge. The venue was fully packed with audience and everybody were eager to hear him speak. He came on to the mike and said, "Christians should Love". He uttered one word and finished the speech with a sigh. There were long arguments about that speech. Some said, it was a metaphor. Other got furious saying the monk called us non Christians. A war broke out of Love..!!
Christian faith express itself as Love. It circumpasses the boundaries of law and divisiveness of doctrines. Hence forth, when we become one in Christ, we are no longer abide in the constrains of any law. Christ has set us free from the laws. This message is a clear inspiration of Holy spirit resonating many times through the apostles. What is the freedom of Christ is like? How we can question the infallibility of the old testaments from God? These are all questions many doctrines and disciplines of Christianity raise and frequently misinterprets.
In the midst of hatred and sinfulness, God must have been thinking for centuries, how to communicate and compliance with the human race which were out of humanity and humaneness. The stink of sin must have been too hard for God to approach the earth. But, His out-pour of Love to the earth circumpassed the constrains of barriers, so that He allowed His only son Jesus Christ to be born as a man in this earth. God gave His son Jesus Christ for us.
.
Love is the fundamental message of God through Christ. Jesus Christ reiterated the message of living in Him through Love. The commandment of Jesus Christ is to Love one another (John 15:12). Unless we are living in the love of Christ we cannot do anything, and we will be pruned into fire. Through the apostles, Holy Spirit up holds the prime importance of Love above everything. Nothing matters, no rituals (circumcision- 1 Corinthians 7:19) or traditions (Jews or gentiles). There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). We are all one in Christ and hence there is no validity of any difference of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, language, religion, social outlook in Christian faith.
In his epistle, James critically analyse the importance of this outward expression of faith in Christ. A person in Christ can no longer sit idle or stop loving others. "I can see Jesus Christ in all the people" is what Mother Theresa said about the leprosy people lying in the filthy slums of Kolkata. We should analyse the expression of Love through our faith in Christ. It is not an outward imposition of law, or following a set of rules and regulations, but an overflow of love through Holy Spirit. No Christian doctrines or churches can no longer implement a law on fellow Christians. 'The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love'.
Sijo, I forgot to welcome you to CF and great post as love says it all.