Back to Basics

   Studying scripture and Church history is important and provides great insight into Christian beliefs and doctrines.  Reading the writings of the early Church fathers and the lives of the Saints adds to ones understanding of Christianity.  These studies are good things.  I would encourage anyone who is truly serious about their faith to learn as much as possible about their faith.  However, there is a time when we must get back to the basics of Christianity.

   At its' very core, Christianity is about love.  All else is comes from that love.  Jesus told us, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.  The second is like it:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matt 22: 37 – 40)

   So, love of God and love of neighbor are the primary signs of Christianity.  If we are not obeying these commandments we have no right to call ourselves Christian.  All else depends on these two.  Any good we might do arises from love of God and love of neighbor.  Charity, kindness, generosity, honesty, all the virtues derive from these.

   A friend recently said that when He needs to get back to basics, he recalls the song many will be familiar with, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so”.  Love of God and His love for us, love of Christ and His love for us, love of the Holy Spirit and His love for, and love of neighbor is where we begin.  Where we go from there is to place ourselves in God’s hands, always seeking His will.

Our lives can become so complicated.

Helps us seek simplicity.

Love is the beginning and the end.

Love of You and neighbor is our path home.

Amen