Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. I wonder how many people look at us and say the same. Still, as believers, we would be negligent to only read about the early Church and marvel at their love without also making a self-examination. Falsehood is not found among them; and they love one another, and from widows they do not turn away their esteem; and they deliver the orphan from him who treats him harshly. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 160–220). John R. W. Stott, rector of All Souls Church in London, and chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II. And he, who has, gives to him who has not, without boasting. They still hold true today. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son … And verily, this is a new people, and there is something divine (lit: “a divine admixture”) in the midst of them. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. The language and sentiments of so many American people were just too angry and intolerant for me. And when they see a stranger, they take him in to … Though some protest, he moves from disciple to disciple washing their feet – the argumentative Simon Peter gets his feet washed; the sometimes sarcastic and skeptical Thomas gets his feet washed; even Judas whom Jesus knows to be plotting his act of betrayal, gets his feet washed. Is (God) calling us to work with penitence and without paternalism in a rundown inner city area or ghetto? This letter was entitled. To appreciate the centrality of reconciliation to the church’s ministry. He states that we can love one another earnestly because the seed from which our new life in Christ sprang is imperishable. It is not like our physical strength, which is wasting away and perishing, rather it is constant, always pulsating with life, and … XV: But the Christians, O King, while they went about and made search, have found the truth; and as we learned from their writings, they have come nearer to truth and genuine knowledge than the rest of the nations. And verily, they are those who found the truth when they went about and made search for it; and from what we considered, we learned that they alone come near to a knowledge of the truth. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. “For, “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). As men who know God, they ask from Him petitions which are fitting for Him to grant and for them to receive. Children of God Love One Another 1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. It’s said that Scholtes took inspiration for the chorus’ lyric in light of  John 13:34-35, and as he reflected over an expression that tradition holds was frequently used by those outside the Church body, in speaking about Christians of the early Church. The first great North African theologian was Tertullian(ca. "Behold! - (2) The demand which this glorification would make on the mutual fidelity and affection of the disciples. John 15:12 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. The phrase “brotherly love” in vs. 9 translates Philadelphia, a word partly based on the root of philia. Just as the second century author of the book of Revelation looked to the promises and hopes of earlier Jewish Apocalyptic writers to provide encouragement and hope for his/her readers, readers enmeshed in very difficult circumstances, so I look to the writings of first and second century followers of Christ to find meaning for the present and future of our church. Further, as outsiders considered the expressions of love shown by these Christians, they consequently had to consider the source of that love—who is Jesus Christ. Justin Martyr (ca. If you would like to read further, you can find a full translation at either of these links: Â, http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/aristides_05_trans.htm, http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/aristides-kay.html. In 1966, Peter Scholtes, published the hymn, They’ll know we are Christians by our Love. [1] “The Foot-Washing Lord and Savior” An Exposition of John 13 by the Rev. 36 “Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked. Love One Another John 13:34 A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are to love one another. "Look," they say, "how they love one another" (for they themselves hate one another); "and how they are ready to die for each other" (for they themselves are readier to kill each other). Jesus said: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Falsehood is not found among them; and they love one another, and from widows they do not turn away their esteem; and they deliver the orphan from him who treats him harshly. Young people, disappointed by the church, were leaving it in droves. Falsehood is not found among them.” “They love one another in action, not just words.” Aristides noted that “they love one another; the widows’ needs are not ignored, and they rescue the orphan from the person who does him violence. John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” In so doing, Stott was drawing upon a very ancient understanding of what it means to be the church. Jesus rises from the table, puts on the apron of a slave, gathers a basin of water, and then systematically begins washing the feet of his disciples. See How They Love One Another. True love always gives, and God set the example in giving sacrificially for our benefit. 34 A new commandment () I give to you, () that you love one another: () just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Or are we meant to offer our lives in Christ’s service in a developing country abroad – as a doctor, nurse, teacher, agriculturalist or social worker – when it would be more lucrative and more respectable to pursue our profession at home?” Then Stott really pushed his audience, arguing that they needed to learn to love those whom most in America’s church scorned – the counter-culture, free-sex, drug-addicted, dropping-out-of-society ‘hippies.’. And I pray that when people write our histories, they will say of us what has been said of those living in Tertullian’s second century era, “Behold, how they love one another.” May that be our deepest and most lasting legacy. Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”… Great love can be shown not by merely saying “I’ll pray for you” but by putting a hand on someone’s shoulder right then and there and lifting up the need in prayer. Through a series of curious circumstances, we had gathered with some 13,000 other students in a large arena at the University of Illinois for Bible study. Thursday, March 28, 2019 Earlier this week, the world learned that Pope Francis is uncomfortable letting lay people kiss his papal ring. . Though we have our treasure-chest, it is not made up of purchase-money, as of a religion that has its price. And when a child has been born to one of them, they give thanks to God; and if moreover it happen to die in childhood, they give thanks to God the more, as for one who has passed through the world without sins. Our nation still routinely engages in unjust wars to advance its economic and political interests, and – as my friend Richard Crocker notes – ‘Congress has never found a war it didn’t like’ and I would paraphrase him by noting that the church has never found a war it couldn’t support. Though I speak in this very different time, it is, I would observe, not really a better time. .” [2]. When we gathered on that day in December 1970, we were momentarily stepping out of a country at war with itself , to consider our calling to be Christian young people. Pray. Once we commit to follow the Lord, we also commit to love others. How does every member of a congregation count the interests of every member of the congregation as more important than their own? How They Love One Another! For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. As you already know, I served in the parish for more than 35 years – 25 of them in neighboring Lebanon – before receiving this call, and I learned a long time ago that the Meriden Congregational United Church of Christ had a significant voice that was being heard in the Upper Valley, the New Hampshire Conference, and even the wider United Church of Christ – a voice of compassion, of voice at once deeply spiritual and rooted in the present reality, a voice urging justice and peace in our world. This suggests the Emperor was so impressed with Aristides’ writing that he didn’t discard it but, instead, released the letter for public viewing. On the monthly day, if he likes, each puts in a small donation; but only if it be his pleasure, and only if he be able: for there is no compulsion; all is voluntary. In Aristides’ writings describing early second-century Christians, he gives firsthand observation and testimony about how Christians had continued to demonstrate great devotedness and selflessness towards others. They do not worship strange gods, and they go their way in all modesty and cheerfulness. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. How do we love children? . For they are not taken thence and spent on feasts, and drinking-bouts, and eating-houses, but to support and bury poor people, to supply the wants of boys and girls destitute of means and parents, and of old persons confined now to the house; such, too, as have suffered shipwreck; and if there happen to be any in the mines, or banished to the islands, or shut up in the prisons . McCain quietly and courageously answered, ‘This is not what our country is all about.” Yesterday, searching for the exact words that were used, I scanned a dozen or more articles before giving up. One of the most loving things that we can do for each other as a church family is to pray for one another. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:13-15). That is, we only can tell the world that God sent Jesus Christ to mankind—the most important thing in … Sometime in middle age he converted to Christianity and was ordained a presbyter (i.e., priest or elder) in Carthage. C. Acts teaches us about the worldwide mission of … Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. To reflect on how worship—singing, teaching, the Lord’s Table, and baptism—shapes those sensitivities of forgiving people that were discussed in the previous study. He explains "they ask from Him petitions which are proper for Him to give and for them to receive: and thus they accomplish the course of their lives." “May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer. century Greek Christian and philosopher who presented a letter of defense to the reigning Caesar (Emperor), Hadrian. That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me (Jn. This is increasingly visible in our Senate and House of Representatives which are finding it harder to work across the aisle in order to produce legislation that will benefit society. (This song can also be found under an alternate title, We are One in the Spirit.) Dr. Derek W. H. Thomas. 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