[QUOTE="GabuEx"]
At least in the Bible, I think that the way in which God wants us to love him is very different than the way in which people think he wants us to love him. This passage is, I believe, edifying on this subject:
"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.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" (Matthew 25:34-40)
The implications here are made even clearer when combined with this passage:
"Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: '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.'" (Matthew 22:34-40)
I always found this a strange thing - Jesus is asked for a singular greatest commandment, yethe replies with two - until I realized what I believe to be a simple fact: loving God and loving your neighbor are equivalent actions; that is to say, one loves God by loving one's neighbor - the greatest commandment is fulfilled by obeying the second commandment which "is like it".
Perhaps the scripture says that but there have been many posts from many Christians on these boards that state that certain parts of the bible state to love him or else bad things will become of you. Many parts of the bible can be taken in several different ways. Current religious thought, however, concerns believing in Christ, becoming one with the Lord and going to church to be forgiven of your sins. That right there tells me that I must obey the Lord and believe in Him or else I will go to hell regardless if it is in the bible or not. You forgot the part about when you go to church you have to give money or you are shunned upon..
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