Christians: Worry About Love First, not Gay

[Clement]

If you were you might want to think about getting the mote out of your own eye.

Ok, I'll think about that.

Again, you don't know what in Gehenna you are talking about. The summary of the law as spoken by Jesus is "Love God, love your neighbor". Loving your neighbor isn't the first or only commandment.

Hey, not saying I'm completely right, however from some research I've done it seems that there is a thing called "the New Commandment" (and there's only one):

The New Commandment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's not the only commandment, though, and as someone has already pointed out, the audience was limited, as written in your own link:

Theologically, this commandment is interpreted as dual to the Love of Christ for his followers.

 

[DriftingSand]

If you were you might want to think about getting the mote out of your own eye.

Ok, I'll think about that.

Again, you don't know what in Gehenna you are talking about. The summary of the law as spoken by Jesus is "Love God, love your neighbor". Loving your neighbor isn't the first or only commandment.

Hey, not saying I'm completely right, however from some research I've done it seems that there is a thing called "the New Commandment" (and there's only one):

The New Commandment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Then you need to do more research.

Jesus was asked: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matt 22:36-40


The Following 38 Commandments are From the Four Gospels


1. "When you stand praying, forgive"

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins." (Mark 11:25-26 NIV)

2. "You must be born again"

"You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again." (John 3:7 KJV)

3. "Remain in Me and I will remain in you"

When you ask Jesus into your heart and He becomes your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit actually lives in you, and you in Him. Here Jesus uses a grape vine to compare our relationship with Him. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." ( John 15:4 NIV)

4. "Let your light shine before men"

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. " In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matt 5:14;16 NIV)

5. "Settle matters quickly with your adversary"

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison." (Matt 5:25 NIV)

6. "Get rid of whatever causes you to sin"

"If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."(Matt 5:29-30 NIV)

7. "Do Not Swear at All"

"But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matt 5:34-37 KJV)

8. "Do Not Resist an Evil Person"

(Turning the other cheek.)

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matt 5:38-39 NIV)

9. "Giving More than is Demanded"

(Going the extra mile)

"And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." (Matt 5:40-42 NIV)

10. "Love Your Enemies"

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matt 5:43-45 NIV)

11. "Give to Please God, Not to be Seen"

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." (Matt 6:1 NIV)

12. "Pray Privately, Not to be Seen of Men"

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." (Matt 6:5-7 NIV)

13. "This, then, is how you should pray"

"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matt 6:9-15 NIV)

14. "Fast Without Fanfare"

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." (Matt 6:16 NIV)

15. "Do not Store up Treasures on Earth"

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt 6:19-21 NIV)

16. "Do not Worry about Your Needs"

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matt 6:25-26 NIV) Commandments of Jesus

17. "Do not Worry about Tomorrow"

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 6:34 NIV)

18. "Place God First"

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt 6:33 NIV)

19. "Do not Judge"

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matt 7:1-2 NIV)

20. "Guard what is Sacred"

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." (Matt 7:6 NIV)

21. "Ask, Seek, and Knock"

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matt 7:7 NIV)

22. "Care for Those in Distress"

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." (Matt 25:34-36 NIV)

23. "Enter Through the Narrow Gate"

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matt 7:13-14 NIV)

24. "Watch out for false prophets"

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." (Matt 7:15 NIV)

25. "Exercise Spiritual Power"

"He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness." (Matt 10:1 NIV)

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (Matt 10:8 NIV)

26. "Do not Despise Childlike Believers"

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." (Matt 18:10 NIV) Commandments of Jesus

27. "Do not Exalt Yourself"

"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matt 23:8-12 NIV)

28. "Settle Disputes Between Believers in this Manner..."

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."(Matt 18:15-17 NIV)

29. "Do not Oppose Other Christian Groups"

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us." (Mark 9:38-40 NIV)

30. "Have Complete Faith in God"

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:22-24 NIV)

31. "Do as the Good Samaritan Did"

"The expert in the law replied, 'The one who had mercy on him.' Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:37 NIV)
(In reference to the "Good Samaritan")
(See Luke 10:30-35)

32. "Love One Another"

(This commandment summarizes all the others.)

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (John 15:12 KJV)

33. "Do this in Remembrance of Me"

"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'"
"In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'" (Luke 22:19-20 NIV)

34. "You Should also Wash One Another's Feet"

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." (John 13:14 NIV)

35. "Be Merciful"

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36 NIV)

36. "Go and Make Disciples of All Nations, Baptizing Them"

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:19-20 NIV)

37. "Obey What I Command"

"If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15 NIV)

38. "You Must be Ready"

"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Luke 12:40 NIV) Commandments of Jesus

"The Commandments of Jesus"

Very good. Here's one more:

Matthew 4:17, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

 

[KevinWestern]

I get your point but you're wrong.

First by putting an adverb in your paraphrasing of what Jesus commanded.

And who are you to say what we should master first?

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you"

That's directly from the bible. Jesus told his disciples directly to love one another in the exact same way that he loves them. What specifically am I not understanding? Not trying to be confrontational here, really.

Also, I’m not telling you to master anything. I’m only restating what Jesus told you to master, via his single commandment.

It’s a tough thing to master and might take a lifetime to do so. That's loving every single person on the planet - the homeless, your mean coworker, your enemies - in the same way you'd love your wife or child. That's not easy.


.

Exactly. No where is the adverb "unselfishly" written.

Not being confrontational, just letting you know that when you cite the Bible and quote Jesus do not add words that he or it doesn't say.

Jesus never told us to "master" anything. Again that is your word not His.

True, and didn't mean to imply that. However, check out this other biblical passage:

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 NKJ
"Selfishness, not hate, is the opposite of divine love"

Divine love is total selflessness (based on that passage), so it's not a stretch to use the word "unselfishness" when describing love.

 

[KevinWestern]

Ok, I'll think about that.



Hey, not saying I'm completely right, however from some research I've done it seems that there is a thing called "the New Commandment" (and there's only one):

The New Commandment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Then you need to do more research.

Jesus was asked: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matt 22:36-40


The Following 38 Commandments are From the Four Gospels


1. "When you stand praying, forgive"

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins." (Mark 11:25-26 NIV)

2. "You must be born again"

"You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again." (John 3:7 KJV)

3. "Remain in Me and I will remain in you"

When you ask Jesus into your heart and He becomes your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit actually lives in you, and you in Him. Here Jesus uses a grape vine to compare our relationship with Him. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." ( John 15:4 NIV)

4. "Let your light shine before men"

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. " In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matt 5:14;16 NIV)

5. "Settle matters quickly with your adversary"

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison." (Matt 5:25 NIV)

6. "Get rid of whatever causes you to sin"

"If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."(Matt 5:29-30 NIV)

7. "Do Not Swear at All"

"But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matt 5:34-37 KJV)

8. "Do Not Resist an Evil Person"

(Turning the other cheek.)

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matt 5:38-39 NIV)

9. "Giving More than is Demanded"

(Going the extra mile)

"And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." (Matt 5:40-42 NIV)

10. "Love Your Enemies"

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matt 5:43-45 NIV)

11. "Give to Please God, Not to be Seen"

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." (Matt 6:1 NIV)

12. "Pray Privately, Not to be Seen of Men"

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." (Matt 6:5-7 NIV)

13. "This, then, is how you should pray"

"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matt 6:9-15 NIV)

14. "Fast Without Fanfare"

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." (Matt 6:16 NIV)

15. "Do not Store up Treasures on Earth"

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt 6:19-21 NIV)

16. "Do not Worry about Your Needs"

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matt 6:25-26 NIV) Commandments of Jesus

17. "Do not Worry about Tomorrow"

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 6:34 NIV)

18. "Place God First"

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt 6:33 NIV)

19. "Do not Judge"

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matt 7:1-2 NIV)

20. "Guard what is Sacred"

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." (Matt 7:6 NIV)

21. "Ask, Seek, and Knock"

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matt 7:7 NIV)

22. "Care for Those in Distress"

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." (Matt 25:34-36 NIV)

23. "Enter Through the Narrow Gate"

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matt 7:13-14 NIV)

24. "Watch out for false prophets"

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." (Matt 7:15 NIV)

25. "Exercise Spiritual Power"

"He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness." (Matt 10:1 NIV)

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (Matt 10:8 NIV)

26. "Do not Despise Childlike Believers"

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." (Matt 18:10 NIV) Commandments of Jesus

27. "Do not Exalt Yourself"

"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matt 23:8-12 NIV)

28. "Settle Disputes Between Believers in this Manner..."

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."(Matt 18:15-17 NIV)

29. "Do not Oppose Other Christian Groups"

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us." (Mark 9:38-40 NIV)

30. "Have Complete Faith in God"

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:22-24 NIV)

31. "Do as the Good Samaritan Did"

"The expert in the law replied, 'The one who had mercy on him.' Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:37 NIV)
(In reference to the "Good Samaritan")
(See Luke 10:30-35)

32. "Love One Another"

(This commandment summarizes all the others.)

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (John 15:12 KJV)

33. "Do this in Remembrance of Me"

"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'"
"In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'" (Luke 22:19-20 NIV)

34. "You Should also Wash One Another's Feet"

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." (John 13:14 NIV)

35. "Be Merciful"

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36 NIV)

36. "Go and Make Disciples of All Nations, Baptizing Them"

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:19-20 NIV)

37. "Obey What I Command"

"If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15 NIV)

38. "You Must be Ready"

"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Luke 12:40 NIV) Commandments of Jesus

"The Commandments of Jesus"

Very good. Here's one more:

Matthew 4:17, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

I might be wrong though, but did Jesus specifically qualify each of those as "commandments" or did people only interpret them as such? It appeared to me the passage about loving your neighbor was actually specifically qualified by Jesus as a "commandment".

 

[DriftingSand]

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you"

That's directly from the bible. Jesus told his disciples directly to love one another in the exact same way that he loves them. What specifically am I not understanding? Not trying to be confrontational here, really.

Also, I’m not telling you to master anything. I’m only restating what Jesus told you to master, via his single commandment.

It’s a tough thing to master and might take a lifetime to do so. That's loving every single person on the planet - the homeless, your mean coworker, your enemies - in the same way you'd love your wife or child. That's not easy.


.

Exactly. No where is the adverb "unselfishly" written.

Not being confrontational, just letting you know that when you cite the Bible and quote Jesus do not add words that he or it doesn't say.

Jesus never told us to "master" anything. Again that is your word not His.

True, and didn't mean to imply that. However, check out this other biblical passage:

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 NKJ
"Selfishness, not hate, is the opposite of divine love"

Divine love is total selflessness (based on that passage), so it's not a stretch to use the word "unselfishness" when describing love.

I can't speak for other Christians but I don't "hate" homosexuals. They're sinners like I am. Sinners in need of a Savior and who need to repent of their sins like I do. My beef is with the in-your-face agenda that's forcing everyone to accept something that isn't acceptable.

 

[DriftingSand]

I might be wrong though, but did Jesus specifically qualify each of those as "commandments" or did people only interpret them as such? It appeared to me the passage about loving your neighbor was actually specifically qualified by Jesus as a "commandment".

He didn't say: "Repent if you want to but it's not really that necessary." He said "Repent." Period. That's a commandment!

 

[Lonestar_logic]

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you"

That's directly from the bible. Jesus told his disciples directly to love one another in the exact same way that he loves them. What specifically am I not understanding? Not trying to be confrontational here, really.

Also, I’m not telling you to master anything. I’m only restating what Jesus told you to master, via his single commandment.

It’s a tough thing to master and might take a lifetime to do so. That's loving every single person on the planet - the homeless, your mean coworker, your enemies - in the same way you'd love your wife or child. That's not easy.


.

Exactly. No where is the adverb "unselfishly" written.

Not being confrontational, just letting you know that when you cite the Bible and quote Jesus do not add words that he or it doesn't say.

Jesus never told us to "master" anything. Again that is your word not His.

True, and didn't mean to imply that. However, check out this other biblical passage:

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 NKJ
"Selfishness, not hate, is the opposite of divine love"

Divine love is total selflessness (based on that passage), so it's not a stretch to use the word "unselfishness" when describing love.

Please link to that verse because it doesn't look like what the verse actually says.


Here it is in full context.


2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2

What you're doing is drawing a conclusion based on how you see it.

 

[KevinWestern]

I can't speak for other Christians but I don't "hate" homosexuals. They're sinners like I am. Sinners in need of a Savior and who need to repent of their sins like I do. My beef is with the in-your-face agenda that's forcing everyone to accept something that isn't acceptable.

Oh definitely didn't imply that Christians "hate" homosexuals! I just said that some (in my mind) seem to focus on that sin before focusing on changing the extremely common sin of not loving your neighbor just like Christ loved "you".

The latter sin, holds more weight (I argue) because Jesus framed it as a commandment, and thus should require all of our attention to eradicate before we go onto worry about gayness or other so called "sexual sins" (I say so called because I don't necessarily hold those beliefs about sexuality).

 

[Lonestar_logic]

Then you need to do more research.

Jesus was asked: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matt 22:36-40


The Following 38 Commandments are From the Four Gospels


1. "When you stand praying, forgive"

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins." (Mark 11:25-26 NIV)

2. "You must be born again"

"You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again." (John 3:7 KJV)

3. "Remain in Me and I will remain in you"

When you ask Jesus into your heart and He becomes your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit actually lives in you, and you in Him. Here Jesus uses a grape vine to compare our relationship with Him. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." ( John 15:4 NIV)

4. "Let your light shine before men"

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. " In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matt 5:14;16 NIV)

5. "Settle matters quickly with your adversary"

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison." (Matt 5:25 NIV)

6. "Get rid of whatever causes you to sin"

"If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."(Matt 5:29-30 NIV)

7. "Do Not Swear at All"

"But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matt 5:34-37 KJV)

8. "Do Not Resist an Evil Person"

(Turning the other cheek.)

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matt 5:38-39 NIV)

9. "Giving More than is Demanded"

(Going the extra mile)

"And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." (Matt 5:40-42 NIV)

10. "Love Your Enemies"

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matt 5:43-45 NIV)

11. "Give to Please God, Not to be Seen"

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." (Matt 6:1 NIV)

12. "Pray Privately, Not to be Seen of Men"

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." (Matt 6:5-7 NIV)

13. "This, then, is how you should pray"

"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matt 6:9-15 NIV)

14. "Fast Without Fanfare"

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." (Matt 6:16 NIV)

15. "Do not Store up Treasures on Earth"

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt 6:19-21 NIV)

16. "Do not Worry about Your Needs"

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matt 6:25-26 NIV) Commandments of Jesus

17. "Do not Worry about Tomorrow"

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 6:34 NIV)

18. "Place God First"

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt 6:33 NIV)

19. "Do not Judge"

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matt 7:1-2 NIV)

20. "Guard what is Sacred"

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." (Matt 7:6 NIV)

21. "Ask, Seek, and Knock"

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matt 7:7 NIV)

22. "Care for Those in Distress"

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." (Matt 25:34-36 NIV)

23. "Enter Through the Narrow Gate"

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matt 7:13-14 NIV)

24. "Watch out for false prophets"

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." (Matt 7:15 NIV)

25. "Exercise Spiritual Power"

"He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness." (Matt 10:1 NIV)

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (Matt 10:8 NIV)

26. "Do not Despise Childlike Believers"

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." (Matt 18:10 NIV) Commandments of Jesus

27. "Do not Exalt Yourself"

"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matt 23:8-12 NIV)

28. "Settle Disputes Between Believers in this Manner..."

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."(Matt 18:15-17 NIV)

29. "Do not Oppose Other Christian Groups"

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us." (Mark 9:38-40 NIV)

30. "Have Complete Faith in God"

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:22-24 NIV)

31. "Do as the Good Samaritan Did"

"The expert in the law replied, 'The one who had mercy on him.' Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:37 NIV)
(In reference to the "Good Samaritan")
(See Luke 10:30-35)

32. "Love One Another"

(This commandment summarizes all the others.)

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (John 15:12 KJV)

33. "Do this in Remembrance of Me"

"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'"
"In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'" (Luke 22:19-20 NIV)

34. "You Should also Wash One Another's Feet"

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." (John 13:14 NIV)

35. "Be Merciful"

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36 NIV)

36. "Go and Make Disciples of All Nations, Baptizing Them"

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:19-20 NIV)

37. "Obey What I Command"

"If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15 NIV)

38. "You Must be Ready"

"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Luke 12:40 NIV) Commandments of Jesus

"The Commandments of Jesus"

Very good. Here's one more:

Matthew 4:17, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

I might be wrong though, but did Jesus specifically qualify each of those as "commandments" or did people only interpret them as such? It appeared to me the passage about loving your neighbor was actually specifically qualified by Jesus as a "commandment".

Everything Jesus instructed us to do is a commandment. He didn't say do these things only if you feel like it.

 

[KevinWestern]

Exactly. No where is the adverb "unselfishly" written.

Not being confrontational, just letting you know that when you cite the Bible and quote Jesus do not add words that he or it doesn't say.

Jesus never told us to "master" anything. Again that is your word not His.

True, and didn't mean to imply that. However, check out this other biblical passage:

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 NKJ
"Selfishness, not hate, is the opposite of divine love"

Divine love is total selflessness (based on that passage), so it's not a stretch to use the word "unselfishness" when describing love.

Please link to that verse because it doesn't look like what the verse actually says.


Here it is in full context.


2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2

My reference was this:
Selfishness: The Opposite Of Divine Love

How about this one:
"Pride is self-importance and self-focus -- which leads to selfishness which is selfish thinking and selfish acting -- which is the opposite of Jesus' command of agape love" (John 13:34)

Doesn't that say sort of the same thing?

 

[KevinWestern]

Very good. Here's one more:

Matthew 4:17, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

I might be wrong though, but did Jesus specifically qualify each of those as "commandments" or did people only interpret them as such? It appeared to me the passage about loving your neighbor was actually specifically qualified by Jesus as a "commandment".

Everything Jesus instructed us to do is a commandment. He didn't say do these things only if you feel like it.

But, when he specifically qualifies something as a "commandment" - shouldn't that ring a bell? Obviously there are things you should and should not do but some things are always going to be symptoms of a larger issue - right?

I believe that he qualified the comment about love with "commandment" - specifically - because it was the most important. It was the root.

If you love all unconditionally, what need would you have to be a glutton, or greedy person, or a prideful person? Those are all selfish activities, which is the opposite of true and divine love - wholeness. Fix that, you fix everything. No bandaids.

 

[Lonestar_logic]

True, and didn't mean to imply that. However, check out this other biblical passage:

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 NKJ
"Selfishness, not hate, is the opposite of divine love"

Divine love is total selflessness (based on that passage), so it's not a stretch to use the word "unselfishness" when describing love.

Please link to that verse because it doesn't look like what the verse actually says.


Here it is in full context.


2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2

My reference was this:
Selfishness: The Opposite Of Divine Love

How about this one:
"Pride is self-importance and self-focus -- which leads to selfishness which is selfish thinking and selfish acting -- which is the opposite of Jesus' command of agape love" (John 13:34)

Doesn't that say sort of the same thing?

So your were disingenuous when you used quotation marks implying the verse came from PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 .

Now we both know it didn't.

At this point I can't trust any Bible verse you cite because once again John 13: 34 doesn't say anything about pride.

John 13:34

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

 

[Lonestar_logic]

I might be wrong though, but did Jesus specifically qualify each of those as "commandments" or did people only interpret them as such? It appeared to me the passage about loving your neighbor was actually specifically qualified by Jesus as a "commandment".

Everything Jesus instructed us to do is a commandment. He didn't say do these things only if you feel like it.

But, when he specifically qualifies something as a "commandment" - shouldn't that ring a bell? Obviously there are things you should and should not do but some things are always going to be symptoms of a larger issue - right?

I believe that he qualified the comment about love with "commandment" - specifically - because it was the most important. It was the root.

If you love all unconditionally, what need would you have to be a glutton, or greedy person, or a prideful person? Those are all selfish activities, which is the opposite of true and divine love - wholeness. Fix that, you fix everything. No bandaids.

I think you're misguided. You seem to think the being selfish is inherently bad.

Here's a good read for you.

Why Selfishness is a Good Thing

 

[KevinWestern]

Please link to that verse because it doesn't look like what the verse actually says.


Here it is in full context.


2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2

My reference was this:
Selfishness: The Opposite Of Divine Love

How about this one:
"Pride is self-importance and self-focus -- which leads to selfishness which is selfish thinking and selfish acting -- which is the opposite of Jesus' command of agape love" (John 13:34)

Doesn't that say sort of the same thing?

So your were disingenuous when you used quotation marks implying the verse came from PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 .

Now we both know it didn't.

At this point I can't trust any Bible verse you cite because once again John 13: 34 doesn't say anything about pride.

John 13:34

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Lol, actually just looked again and you're right. That was an interpretation. Obviously an honest mistake (or I wouldn't have provided you the website so directly).

Did the same thing with pride:
Pride and Selfishness

 

[Mr. H.]

*I completely realize this doesn't apply to all Christians so please take note!

To love one another unselfishly was Jesus's only commandment.

With that as a given, if you aren't actively working to become a completely loving person in every way ("working", because no one's perfect), I’m going to go ahead and say that you (based on Christian teachings) are bound for the same hell as all of the so called “sexual sinners”, etc.

If you’re a Christian, I feel like you should focus on mastering his one commandment first before worrying about all of the other sins.

Just my two cents.

In what passage in the Scriptures do you find this specific commandment?

I can tell you the passage in which Jesus informs us of his several commandments (John 14:15). One of these commandments exhorts us to honor the institute of marriage, to not put asunder this cleaving of male to female that God created (Matthew 19:4–6).

Those norwegs know their Bible!

 

[KevinWestern]

I think you're misguided. You seem to think the being selfish is inherently bad.

Here's a good read for you.

Why Selfishness is a Good Thing

I tend to disagree with the article. Anything “good” you can accomplish by being selfish, you can also accomplish being entirely unselfish. The only difference is that when you’re entirely unselfish the results are most always going to be a lot better in the long run for the whole.

Your article is all about making things better for the person and not the whole (I mean, the website is entitled "personal growth"):

"Good Selfishness doesn’t place the interests and well-being of others above one’s own, but recognizes that other people’s well-being contributes to one’s own. This is why Good Selfishness promotes respect, consideration and kindness."

Lol, this is telling people to only do things because "you'll get something back in the end". Is that the best motivator? What happens when there's nothing in it for you? That's not how I like to try to live my life. You?


.

 

[Avatar4321]

*I completely realize this doesn't apply to all Christians so please take note!

To love one another unselfishly was Jesus's only commandment.

With that as a given, if you aren't actively working to become a completely loving person in every way ("working", because no one's perfect), I’m going to go ahead and say that you (based on Christian teachings) are bound for the same hell as all of the so called “sexual sinners”, etc.

If you’re a Christian, I feel like you should focus on mastering his one commandment first before worrying about all of the other sins.

Just my two cents.

While I don't disagree that we should be learning to love even our enemies, you are wrong that this was Jesus's only commandment. It's not even the first.

The First great commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all thy might, mind, and heart. The second is like it, to love your neighbor as yourself.

But even those aren't the only commandments. Read the Sermon on the Mount if you disagree.

 

[Avatar4321]

*I completely realize this doesn't apply to all Christians so please take note!

To love one another unselfishly was Jesus's only commandment.

With that as a given, if you aren't actively working to become a completely loving person in every way ("working", because no one's perfect), I’m going to go ahead and say that you (based on Christian teachings) are bound for the same hell as all of the so called “sexual sinners”, etc.

If you’re a Christian, I feel like you should focus on mastering his one commandment first before worrying about all of the other sins.

Just my two cents.

Why do some people feel the need to tell other people what to believe? Get over yourself.

If it gets him searching the scriptures, let him. Doesn't hurt me if he tells me to love others.

 

[rdean]

*I completely realize this doesn't apply to all Christians so please take note!

To love one another unselfishly was Jesus's only commandment.

With that as a given, if you aren't actively working to become a completely loving person in every way ("working", because no one's perfect), I’m going to go ahead and say that you (based on Christian teachings) are bound for the same hell as all of the so called “sexual sinners”, etc.

If you’re a Christian, I feel like you should focus on mastering his one commandment first before worrying about all of the other sins.

Just my two cents.

Right Wing Christians aren't "traditional" Christians. Right Wing Christians hate a lot of people. Gay, poor, blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, Atheists.

You only have to spend some time on the USMB to know that for a fact.

Then they come back with "We don't ALL hate". OK, perhaps there are a few dozen that don't.

 

[Avatar4321]

*I completely realize this doesn't apply to all Christians so please take note!

To love one another unselfishly was Jesus's only commandment.

With that as a given, if you aren't actively working to become a completely loving person in every way ("working", because no one's perfect), I’m going to go ahead and say that you (based on Christian teachings) are bound for the same hell as all of the so called “sexual sinners”, etc.

If you’re a Christian, I feel like you should focus on mastering his one commandment first before worrying about all of the other sins.

Just my two cents.

Right Wing Christians aren't "traditional" Christians. Right Wing Christians hate a lot of people. Gay, poor, blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, Atheists.

You only have to spend some time on the USMB to know that for a fact.

Then they come back with "We don't ALL hate". OK, perhaps there are a few dozen that don't.

You are wrong again rdean. We love all people, including you. We don't want you to be enslaved to politicians or bureaucrats. and we pray for you to come to a knowledge of the truth.