Pesky Atheists. And Love (Quote)

“Atheism [a.k.a. Christianity] has been specifically advanced through the loving treatment rendered to strangers, and through their care for the burial of the dead it is a scandal that there is not a single Jew who is a beggar; that the godless Galileans care not only for their own poor but for ours as well.” – attributed to Julian the Apostate

The Christians were falsely charged with atheism, as we have learned earlier in this course.  What problem did Julian, a pagan emperor, have with Christianity? In this quote, the love that Christians had for themselves and for others was especially noted. Julian said there was not a single believer who was a beggar.

One early author said of the early church: “They love each other before they even know each other.”  

Can we say that we as believers today have this same mentality towards each other? This just challenged me to love all of our brothers and sisters in the Lord without partiality, bias, or ill-willed judgement.  We should regard no man according to the flesh. Everyone is equally important and equally essential in the contributions they can make to the Body of Christ.  If one member suffers, then we all suffer together.  In the same manner, if one member rejoices then we should all rejoice together.  The family bond we have with one another should be as strong as those believers in the early church. Amen!