LOVE TO OTHERS

One of the strongest marks of this world, in which we live, is violence. Its origin dates back to the beginning of the new reality of existence that was established after the Fall; after the human being, in a personal decision, turn away from God (Genesis 3). On the first pages of the Bible, we observe the narrative of the first murder, in which one brother premeditatedly kills the other (Genesis 4). Then, throughout the all extent of the Old Testament, we observe the aggression of people against people and nations against nations. 

From that time to the present day, war was always present in humanity. The desire to control and subjugate the other led man to the formation of great empires that later faced each other in the search for world power. Millions of lives have been lost on battlefields throughout history. Humanity has never lived a long period of peace. Man has developed sophisticated methods and artifacts of war that, today, can, if he wishes, destroy the planet with the use of the nuclear arsenal available in few nations [1]. 

But violence against others is a grave sin. "As man is made in the image of God, every human being is worthy of honor and respect; he should not be murdered (Genesis 9:6) or cursed (James 3:9)" [2]. Note that the Bible specifies not only physical aggression, but also that of words. Many people, even Christians, do not realize the mistake they make by assaulting each other with false testimonies, disrespectful attitudes, and offensive words. 

In this regard, Jesus said that "anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca’, is answerable to the court. And anyone who says you ‘fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell” (Matthew 5:22). For Him these seemingly simple offenses constitute serious aggressions, such that He has directed that if one is at the altar to deliver his offering, he must first reconcile himself with the person who offended and then return and deliver the offering (Matthew 5. 23,24). 

The Jews of Jesus' time thought they loved God because they sought to comply with the 613 rules they compiled from the Law of Moses. It was in this context that a master of the Law asked Jesus what the most important commandment was. Jesus answered the answer the master expects to hear: the greatest commandment is to love God over all things. But He immediately added that the second greatest is "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:28-33). The Apostle John also talked about it. He said, "anyone who claims to be in the light, but hates his brother, remains in darkness” (1 John 2:9). 

We're mysteriously connected to each other. We realize this when we constrain ourselves, and even suffer, with the suffering of the other. For this reason, we have diminished, to the same extent, that we have diminished the other that we offend. It's like we're part of each other, because we need him to be ourselves. The mother feels mother in the child, the teacher perceives herself teacher in the student, the doctor understands himself as a doctor in the patient. That's why the relationship between people should be tempered with love. John said, "let us love one another, for love comes from God. He who loves is born of God and knows God" (1 John 4:7). Thus, if we are zealous with aspects of our faith, but hate or offend the other, we have not yet learned the basics of what it means to be christian.

Antônio Maia - M. Div.

Copyright

[1] MAIA, Antônio. O Homem em Busca de Si. Amazona.com.br, posição 1046

[2] Comentaristas da Bíblia Nova Versão Internacional. São Paulo: Ed Vida, p.8

[3] Comentaristas da Bíblia Nova Versão Internacional. São Paulo: Ed Vida, p.1624, 1625

[4] Comentaristas da Bíblia Nova Versão Internacional. São Paulo: Ed Vida, p.1703