Matthew [chapter 5, verse 42 and 43]:
‘You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you…’
The love shown here is Agape as it refers to someone we don’t know our neighbour.
Jesus taught people to forgive others, if they are doing something wrong you should try to lead them on the right path. This means that if every one loved their enemy’s there would be no violence and wars. Jesus said on ‘The Sermon on the mount’ (Matthew 5:11-12):
‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…’
This means that you should pray for those who persecute you because they do not know they are doing you a favour, so you should return a favour by praying for their forgiveness.
Genesis [chapter1, verse 26 and 27]:
Then god said, ‘and now we will make human beings: They will be like us and resemble us…’. So god created human beings, making them to be like him. He created them male and female…’
This means that God created everyone in his own image-and that everyone is equal. If we are all equal in the eyes of God then we should not discriminate against anyone because we are all the same.
The love shown here is also Storage love as we once again are meant to have affection, show love towards our fellow humans and by doing that we are showing we are capable of loving God
‘They will be like us and resemble us…’ means that inside each one of us is a bit of God. To harm someone is to therefore harm God, to discriminate against someone is to discriminate against God. Also to reject someone on the grounds of race etc. is to reject God.
Using the picture, explain how it reflects both Christian love and also present day conflicts between Christians from different cultures
Looking at the picture I can see a group of black people engaged in some form of prayer. It looks like they are in a church asking for forgiveness from God. One would be wondering, why are black being segregated, praying separately from white people. There are only black people in the picture although it has been clearly stated in the Bible that all people in the eyes of God are equal. ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’
(Matthew 22:39)
People sometimes say that discrimination = prejudice + power
I say this statement is true because discrimination comes from having un-confirmed thoughts about something and from those thoughts a person acts and in the long term the actions tend to be discriminative. You might only be faced with discrimination if you are living as a minority in a majority area thus the theory of power is reinforced.
Racism has affected many people in many different ways within the UK. Minority groups especially Blacks and Asians have been subjected to racism by the way they speak and look. They have also been discriminated in some sectors of work and social life, which is resulting in segregation. The media is also playing a very big role in stimulating the way people think of a particular group, the media is stereotyping a minority group that is resulting in violence and misunderstanding. All this is taking part even while the ‘Race relation act’ is in use.
Racism has not only affected people in the UK but also the global community as well. South Africa, until recently was probably the most racist country in the world: it segregated people under the so-called ‘Apartheid laws.’ One man, Nelson Mandela, stood up for his human rights, he started off using violent methods but then got sentenced to life imprisonment. After twenty-six years he was released and was seen as a national hero. Mandela followed the teachings of Jesus Christ ‘…forgive your enemies.’ When he was released he proposed that those who committed crimes against the blacks under apartheid should be pardoned: people should look forward not backward. When Mandela was re-elected as president in 1994, his focus point was how to make the black people achieve their true potential alongside the white people. And since then South Africa has changed a lot. Nowadays you see black people coming from South Africa to t other countries whereas before you couldn’t do that.
Another person who followed his campaign for civil rights with Christian teachings is Martin Luther King a well-known figure among black Americans. Martin Luther King, refused to believe that all whites were evil but instead believed that love ‘is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.’ He supported non-violent protests as the way forward. As a result of his work King was rewarded when the 1962 civil rights bill was passed whereby black people were given the rights they were deprived of before.
‘A Christian must show love’
I agree with this statement to some extent because a Christian must show Agape love, Philos love and Eros love start from Agape love. Jesus showed and taught his disciples to love one another and he gave his life up for the love of God and his people. Christians should show love to everyone including enemies because that is what Jesus did; Jesus said “if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”(Matthew 5:17-48). But then one could argue that if someone comes up to you and starts beating you up do you jus stand still and do nothing, hoping that he will stop or do you fight back? There is a saying that violence plus violence equals violence, as there is nothing to balance it but violence plus love equals love. Another very famous story to prove that love can solve anything is the parable of the Good Samaritan in the New Testament (Luke 10:25-37). A man (a Jew) is beaten up by robbers and left half dead, other people (Jews) walk by but ignore the injured person. A Samaritan (an enemy) walks by and notices the injured person. He takes him home and looks after him. This here is the love that not only Christians should show but the love everyone should show to fellow human beings.
Coming to a conclusion my opinions on love are that you do not need to be religious to follow a particular set of rules laid out for us in our religion as to how we should show love towards people. Us humans have the power to treat people as we wish, then it is also in our hand as to how to show love towards people. I say we should show love towards everyone no matter who they are, as humans we have feelings towards our loved ones, if we could feel that way when we interact with other people than this world would be rid of all evil.
Bibliography:
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/re/ date: 6/10/03
- CGP, Gcse religious studies, the revision guide, first edition
- Gcse bitesize revision, first published 2002, Author: Jon Mayled and Libby Ahluwalia
- Teacher handout notes
