“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
Communities across the country are experiencing violence at alarming rates and far too many people, young and old, have lost their lives.
Residents are searching for answers through discussions, meetings, forums, prayer vigils, programs and other means of means of finding peace in the streets, however, some say the answer to these issues is simple – love.
“I don’t contend that everyone is observing that biblical principal, ‘love one another as Christ loved the church.’ I don’t think everyone is even aware of that biblical principal. No, I don’t see that being practiced in any of our communities,” said Rev. Stephen Clay, senior pastor of Messiah Missionary Baptist Church.
He believes people aren’t showing love to one another because they themselves haven’t been shown Christian love by other Christians, haven’t been taught how to love, or most importantly, know what true Christain love is – loving under all conditions.
“It goes back to the home. Kids aren’t being taught at home how to love one another but the Bible tells us to ‘train up a child in the way he should go and when he’s old, he won’t depart from it,’” adds Pastor Claude Robinson, senior pastor of Greater Northwest Baptist Church.
Many know of the golden rule ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you,’ however pastors believe that if people don’t love themselves, they won’t be able to “love their neighbor.”
In addition to John 13, Romans 12:10 calls for people to love one another. Not only is the command to love found in various places within the Bible, Robinson said there are many other commands in the Bible that people just aren’t practicing which contributes to societal ills.
“They love the world, they don’t love the Lord. There is a way that seemeth right to man, but the end is death,” said Robinson.
The good news is that both Robinson and Clay believe that this can change – people can begin to show love.
Robinson said the very first step is coming to Christ and becoming saved, meaning accepting that Jesus died, rose and was buried for sin. After salvation, people must search the Bible for guidance, which is practical in today’s times, follow that guidance, and spread that message to their families and others.
Clay believes there should be an emergence of self-respect in every community, not just the Black community. That self worth will then permeate other parts of life and lead to a change.
He also believes that the community should join together and adopt the ‘I am my brother’s keeper’ attitude.
“We need to invest in others. You may not be able to give what I gave you, but you should give something,” said Clay. “Until we reap what we sow, we’re not going to get anything more than what we’re getting.”
