Website owner: James Miller
Meaning of “love your neighbor”
What is meant by “love your neighbor”? What is encompassed in this teaching of Jesus? The word love used in this sense refers to an attitude of charity, benevolence, brotherly concern toward people. Loving our neighbor encompasses all of the following ideas. It implies:
1. We must treat other people honestly, fairly, justly. We must not cheat them, steal from them, plunder them, rip them off, trick them, deceive them, or use them. We must treat them right; treat them honestly and fairly, as we would wish to be treated.
2. We must treat other people kindly, with understanding and patience. We must treat them well, decently, with politeness and respect. We must not abuse them, verbally or otherwise. We should treat even our enemies properly and well. Treating others kindly precludes such conduct as rudeness, impertinence, boldness, etc.
3. We must do no harm to others. We must not act maliciously toward anyone, do anyone bad, say untrue things about anyone, slander anyone. We must be very careful in what we say of others, even our enemies, and be careful that we do not wrong them.
4. We should be willing to help others if they are seriously in need of help and we are able to help them.
Following Jesus’ commandment of loving your neighbor involves giving attention to our personal behavior in dealing with others and regulating that behavior. It involves self-control, self-discipline, and the establishing of good habits of behavior. It involves putting ourselves in another person’s place, understanding their feelings, refraining from stepping on their egos, etc. In dealing with others we keep in mind that we are not in a position to judge another, only God is, and we give people the benefit of a doubt. We assume the best in them until proven otherwise.
Who is that man that loves his neighbor? It is that honest, upright, god-fearing man. This man has within him an intuitive sense of how he should treat others, a voice within, an inner light. And he lives in accordance with that light. He is a man of principle. He tells the truth and does what is right habitually, even when no-one is watching and only he and God would know if he did wrong.
Sept 2013
Jesus Christ and His Teachings
Way of enlightenment, wisdom, and understanding
America, a corrupt, depraved, shameless country
On integrity and the lack of it
The test of a person's Christianity is what he is
Ninety five percent of the problems that most people have come from personal foolishness
Liberalism, socialism and the modern welfare state
The desire to harm, a motivation for conduct
On Self-sufficient Country Living, Homesteading
Topically Arranged Proverbs, Precepts, Quotations. Common Sayings. Poor Richard's Almanac.
Theory on the Formation of Character
People are like radio tuners --- they pick out and listen to one wavelength and ignore the rest
Cause of Character Traits --- According to Aristotle
We are what we eat --- living under the discipline of a diet
Avoiding problems and trouble in life
Role of habit in formation of character
Personal attributes of the true Christian
What determines a person's character?
Love of God and love of virtue are closely united
Intellectual disparities among people and the power in good habits
Tools of Satan. Tactics and Tricks used by the Devil.
The Natural Way -- The Unnatural Way
Wisdom, Reason and Virtue are closely related
Knowledge is one thing, wisdom is another
My views on Christianity in America
The most important thing in life is understanding
We are all examples --- for good or for bad
Television --- spiritual poison
The Prime Mover that decides "What We Are"
Where do our outlooks, attitudes and values come from?
Sin is serious business. The punishment for it is real. Hell is real.
Self-imposed discipline and regimentation
Achieving happiness in life --- a matter of the right strategies
Self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline basic to so much in life