Christian
Behaviour |
love your neighbour as yourself |
love those who hate you | hate those who hate you |
love those who love you | hate those who love you |
do to others as you would like them to do to you | do to others as much as you can get away with |
look for the advantage of others | look for self-advantage, and take advantage of others |
neither offend nor take offence | offend and take offence |
Love your neighbour |
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Reflect Yahweh's love. Desire for others what Yahweh intends for them. Desire to be with others who are righteous. Be open to others, with a desire for spiritual relationships. The benefits of the relationship will flow from Yahweh.
Limits to Loving your neighbour There are no limits to loving your neighbour, except those of prior obligations to Yahweh. Loving does not imply being a fool, or a victim, or tolerating non-Christian behaviour if you are able to prevent it, or exposing yourself to unnecessary danger. Yeshuah showed that you do not have to be a victim, either willingly or unwillingly. You do not have to accept injury, or death, other than at the hands of lawful authority. You may withdraw from others, and remain separated, if they show mindless resistance, unacceptance, or hostility. Do not love in order to be loved. Do not buy love. You try to buy love when you tolerate behaviour you should not, in the desired return for the acceptance, regard, and love of others. |
The advantage of others |
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Live so that others can gain from their relationship with you. This gain can be material, and social, but should be spiritual. Living so that others gain materially or socially can lead to unexpected disdain and contempt, since your intentions will be suspect. The measure for this gain is largely worldly. Let your relationship be exemplary spiritually and morally, by your conduct and witness, so that others can learn how to live, if they are so minded. The disdain and contempt that may follow will then be a measure of the other person's unrighteousness. |
Offence |
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Recognising Offence A three step process.
One of the paradoxes of Christianity is that, a Christian must both give and not give offence. A Christian gives offence by the very facts of living a righteous life before Yahweh, walking with Yeshua, and loving others. These activities should prevent a Christian from giving offence intentionally by wrongdoing. Taking Offence A Christian should not take offence, recognising that there are two sources of offence. Both put the Christian to the test, but with opposite purposes.
Sources of Offence The sources of offence are spiritual, yourself, other people, (Christians and non-Christians), and the material world. Offences These can be anything, since each human being has a different viewpoint to others, and will include: race, skin colour, body shape, body mass, gender; facial features, length of hair, facial hair; tribe, clan, sect, social affiliations, class, family; clothes; neighbourhood, dwelling, possessions; religious beliefs, political beliefs, social beliefs, culture, traditions; behaviour, habits, speech, education, occupation; food, acquisition of food, eating and drinking; types of animals, animal behaviour, the design of animals; types of plants, plant habits, designs of plants; the weather, the seasons. The idea of a supreme spiritual being is offensive to many, as is the idea of a single creator God, and that His name is Yahweh. The final offence is Yeshua. |
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Christian Behaviour |
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