Love as the basis for Christian Living

"Dear friends, let us love one another because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed us his love by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. That is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven. If this is how God loved us then we should love one another. No-one has seen God but if we love one another God lives in union with us and his love is made perfect in us. ..... we love God because God first loved us. If someone says that they love God, but they hate their brother (or sister), they are a liar for you cannot love God if you do not love your brother (and sister). The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must also love their brother (and sister)"

1 John 4:1-21(edited)

For a Christian love is at the centre of their faith. They believe that God loves them and that they should love other people:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment." [Exodus 20:2 / Mark 12:28-34]

Jesus also taught that men and women must learn to love each other.

"I give you a new commandment; love one another; as I have loved you, so you are to love on another." [John 13:34]

"Love your enemies" [Matthew 5:44]

These are difficult and challenging commandments, and many Christians struggle to do this. In the parable of the rich man (Mark 10:17-29) Jesus tells his disciples that love of your fellow human is more important than building up riches or possessions on earth. Perfect love comes from God and so only through prayer and faith we can hope to achieve the ideals expressed in the quotes above. The kind of love that is expected from a Christian is expressed in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. This is a very popular reading at weddings.

"Love is patient and kind; it is nor jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope and patient never fail. Love is eternal."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Although loving like this is impossible for most, if not all, Christians this is their ideal. Christians believe that Jesus was the only person to fulfil this ideal. The way that they deal with any moral, social or personal issue will be based on this ideal of love. They will judge their actions on the basis of love.

The golden rule

When asked what was the most important of all the commandments or rules Jesus replied that you should love God with all your heart and mind and strength and also:

"Love your neighbour as you love yourself" [Mark 12:31]

This is sometimes called the golden rule and is at the heart of Jesus', and so Christian, teaching on love and the way that you should live your life.

The role and teaching of the eucharist

In the last week of his life Jesus gathered his disciples around him to celebrate the Jewish Passover meal. This story can be found in the bible. (Matthew 26:17-25; Luke 22:7-14,21-23; John 13:21-30). At this meal Jesus took the bread and the wine and told his disciples that they should think of the bread as his body and the wine as his blood. They should share the bread and the wine every time that they met together and that this would remind them of the example of Jesus' life.

"While they were eating Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples. "Take it," he said, "this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God and handed it to them; and they all drank from it. Jesus said this is my blood which is poured out for many, my blood which seals God's covenant."

Mark 14: 22-24

This teaching was passed on to the early church;

"For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed onto you; that the Lord Jesus, on the night that he was betrayed, took a piece of bread, gave thanks to the Lord broke it and said 'this is my body, which is for you', in the same way after the supper he took the cup and said 'this cup is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

For most Christians today the eucharist, or Lord's supper or communion is a very special and important occasion where they remember the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. For some (the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and some Anglican) the bread and wine at the eucharist actually change into the body and blood of Jesus; for others the eucharist is a remembrance of the last supper and the events after it.

The continuing authority of Christ in the world

The earthly life of Jesus of Nazareth is recorded in the New Testament. After his resurrection Jesus stayed with his disciples for 40 days until his ascension when he went back to heaven to be with his Father, God. The Holy Spirit was sent to aid the disciples at the time of Pentecost.

Christians believe that through the Holy Spirit Jesus is still with them and can offer them help and advice in times of difficulty and trouble. For Christians, Jesus is still alive and remains an authority. Through prayer, through the Eucharist and through the church people believe that the authority of Jesus lives on. (see also section A(5) God and Jesus for the idea of the trinity)

Prayer

Prayer is communication with God. Prayer comes in 4 main forms Praise (rejoicing in creation and belief in God), Thanksgiving (for the good things of life and of the world), Supplication (asking for help in times of difficulty or trouble) and Confession (Asking for forgiveness for things that they have done wrong). Prayer is a chance to communicate with God and receive help with difficult problems and issues.

Eucharist

For Roman Catholics, Orthodox and Anglicans the eucharist is a time when they believe that Jesus is physically present with them (see above). For the other Christian churches the Eucharist is a reminder of the authority of Jesus as expressed through the bible or prayer.

The church

For the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches the priests have the authority of Jesus. For the other protestant churches the authority of their ministers comes from the prayer of their congregations.

See Also: God and Jesus & Christian morality