Saturday, June 14, 2008

Loving Men Christianly

How can we love men as Christ intends us to love them?
Hand with Globe by M. C. Escher
Hand with Globe

  • First, we must see men as Christ saw them. This means that we shall include every man within the scope of our concern. We must never think only of our family, or our nation, or our race, or of our church. Rather, every man is to be a concern of ours, because he is one of Christ's children of whom Christ died.

  • Second, I must recognize my personal responsibility to every man with whom I come in contact. "I am my brother's keeper." This means that I must keep my standards high. I must never permit myself to give expression to shabby thoughts, filthy jokes, or sordid ideas. I must not lend my influence to the weakening if a high regard for honest work. I must never speak disparagingly of something that is holy.

This is a solemn responsibility to be our brother's keeper.

A young woman once told of her life of degradation, and said that she first began this way of life through talk that she had heard from one who was older than she, a person whom she greatly admired and trusted. If by our speech or influence we cause one to go down the wrong path--how tragic! We cannot excuse ourselves by saying that we did not mean for that to happen -- we only talked. We cannot say that we did nothing--nothing except ruin a man's life!

He who saws through the trunk, though he leave
The tree up in the forest,
When the first wind casts it down, is his not
The hand that smote it?

Have we been stumbling blocks to another? Has our influence been positive or negative? Everyone has influence whether he wants it or not.

We can never influence another in the right way unless we ourselves are what we ought to be. Our unconscious acts, if they are to be an influence for good, must come from a heart that unconsciously beats for the right. This is the basic reason why we cannot love men unless we love God.

Jesus says:
"Inasmuch as you did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you did it unto me."

Detail of Statue of Christ in Church, Mexico by Jeffrey Becom
Detail of Statue of Christ in Church, Mexico

It is Christ who weeps when little children do not have enough to eat and live in homes unfit for rats. It is Christ who feels the shame when some of his children are called "second rate" and inferior. If only we could understand that Christ is in that teacher, that student, that mother, that father, that child. -- what a difference it would make in our treatment of each other.
Sisters Show their Love in a Big Greeting Hug by Stacy Gold
Sisters Show their Love in a Big Greeting Hug

Has our love of God shown in our love of men?

This is the test of love.

Are we innocent or are we guilty?
Love, Mimi

11 comments:

Cathy said...

A very beautiful, thought provoking post, as usual, Mimi. I love the little picture of the girls hugging.

Anonymous said...

Mimi,this a a great posting.

on a different note I swiped some of the lighthouses that you have posted.Sorry I could not help my self,I love lighthouses. I will not use them in a posting if you do not want me to,but instead will keep them to look at in my lighthouse folder that I have.

Denise said...

Wonderful, just wonderful... give a person a lot to think about... to ponder.......... I so love the two comments at the beginning about loving the men of Christ.. no matter who or where!!!!!

have a great weekend and I pray that God live LARGE in your life today.............

Dawn said...

Beautifully done. Thank you!

Tracy said...

wow , very thought provoking. Lots to think about here.

Thank you for posting such a wonderful post.

Hugs and Blessings

Paula said...

I have been guilty of this lately in my very own house. Thank you for the reminder!

Jan Parrish said...

"Has our love of God shown in our love of men?"

Good point to ponder.

I have an award for you on my blog. Happy Fathers day!

Melissa said...

never speak disparagingly

Unknown said...

Very thought provoking post Mimi. That photo of the statue of Jesus moved me to tears!

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

A very uplifting post. Hope your weekend was wonderful. Please pray for my husband. We went to the doctor on Thursday and his leg is still not responding to the treatments.... Mary

Kathi said...

Good post Mimi. Thank you for the insightful teaching.

Kathi