Love your neighbour as the Bible teaches you!

[PetriFB]

As purpose of the faith is not grow upwards, but downwards such as John the Baptist said: He must increase, but I must decrease. Healthy life of the faith makes of us God's servants, whose life radiate sweet smell of Christ. God calls us to be conformed to the image of His Son, which is the life, in which is sweet smell of creative power of God. This is the life with big L. In this life is powerfully with one characteristic feature, which belongs to this life. This characteristic feature is serving, all tasks in the congregation are serving and in those is sweet smell, which smells in Christ. Many believers today have embraced program Christianity, in which person carries out program numbers, and usually this game have occupied persons who are full of themselves. And too often those program performers are those, who going after their own needs, and they don't see those people, who the sin of this world has hit very deeply woundss.

A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell in with robbers, who both stripping him and laying on blows, went away, leaving him being half dead. But by a coincidence, a certain priest was going on that road; and seeing him, he passed on the opposite side, maybe because he was so busy and running to his pulpit and speak to his church. Program Christianity blinds its performer so badly, that he can't see real needs of his neighbour. Performer of program Christianity is so centred to his own performance, that he can not see reality. And in the same way, a Levite, also being at the place, coming and seeing him, he passed on the opposite side. But then Samaritan becomes to the place of tormented person. He sees and pities him. He binds his wounds.

Too often too many believers working in that way, that they hit more wounds, when would come to bind and to take care of those wounds. Samaritan shredded oil and wine to the wounds of hacked man. This Samaritan acted like in the Holy Spirit, which oil describe. This Samaritan was merciful and full of love towards his neighbour and pitied this half dead and hacked man. And putting him on his own animal, he brought him to an inn and cared for him. And Samaritan gave two denarii to the innkeeper, and said to him, care for him, and whatever more you spend, on my return I will repay to you. This kind of attitude will be on the servant of God, he must be ready to give from his own, so that the good message from kingdom of God and Jesus goes ahead and people will be taken care in connection of the congregation. Program performers demand always for themselves salary, so that they can carry out their program number, but real servant of God sacrifices himself and to give from his own and don't demand himself nothing. In this is that difference, which separate real servant of God and program performer. Merciful Samaritans was going somewhere, but stopped and changed his plans for the sake of wounded man, he died for himself and took a lot of trouble, when he loved his neighbour.

Real work of God is serving, humble, longsuffering, righteous, truthful, holy and loving mind. These are real fruits of the Spirit, which God affects you in the Holy Spirit.

So love your neighbour, but let us not love in word, or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

[Pipit]

Good word PetriFB... I agree that many churches have become prefomance driven places that seem to focus only on the self, without encouraging or challenging us to reach beyond ourselves to others---may it be to others within that church or to others who are Christians.

I am reminded of a statement I read regarding the story of the 'Good Samaritan.' While the other two thought 'What would happen to me if I help that man?' the Samaritian thought 'What would happen to that man if I don't help him?' Such should our mindset be.

Too often we have a 'what do I get out of serving others?' attitude, as we are (and I am part of that 'we') rather selfish! We need to start thinking with a 'What can I bring to others and how can I serve them? What can I do for them?' attitude, and to bring an unselfish, servanthood mind set.

Though to do, we say... but not impossible. I think the story Jesus told about the Samaritan stands as an example that we can uselfishly love our neighbour, and that love is expressed in our unselfish actions towards our neighbours.

What is more, we as Christians are commanded to encouarge each other and spur one another on in love and faith (Hebrews 10:23-24). As well, we as Christians are to be known not by our Church programs or services or how big the choir is but by our love. It seems we are known for everything but our love for each other and for others. Pity... as it makes it difficult to share Christ when those who 'follow Christ' are not the most loving of people...

I hope anyone reading this thread will feel challenged to love their neighbours to a deeper level, as I do.