Magyar
Deutsch
English
Русский5. Community - responsibility
Since the time of Jesus Christ, Christians are seeking the community with each other. Christianity is a community religion - God does not only need solitary heroes, but rather people willing to accept each other and to share their pleasures and concerns.
Our relationship with each other
Jesus taught Christians to love each other. This means that we seek the good in other people, since we were all made in the image of God. We accept the difficulties of life as God's trials, as he wants to educate and strengthen us with these. In the conflicts we are forgiving and peace-building, we abandon violence and retaliation.
The Beatitudes
„Happy are the poor in spirit: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Happy are those who are sad: for they will be comforted.
Happy are the gentle: for the earth will be their heritage.
Happy are those whose heart's desire is for righteousness: for they will have their desire.
Happy are those who have mercy: for they will be given mercy.
Happy are the clean in heart: for they will see God.
Happy are the peacemakers: for they will be named sons of God.
Happy are those who are attacked on account of righteousness: for the kingdom of heaven will be theirs.
Happy are you when men give you a bad name, and are cruel to you, and say all evil things against you falsely, because of me.”
(Gospel of Matthew 5:3-11)
Congregation – church service
"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I among them."
(Matthew 18: 20)
Two thousand years ago, Jesus' life did not end with his death, as he resurrected on the third day – at the dawn of Easter Sunday - and since then many have experienced his living and helpful presence. As Jesus taught us, we turn to him with our prayers. The basic experience of the Christians is that if some people come together and address him with prayers, this has a result. Jesus is still here today - not visibly, but very active.
The local community of Christians is called a congregation - people in the neighborhood who live in one place and go to the same church. At Sunday at the service we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in the service - so every Sunday is a special feast for us. At Sundays the entire congregation meets with all different age groups, from small children to the elderly, to celebrate in a large community.
Responsibility for each other
Taking care of each other means that we see the joy, care and need of the other. Where we can, we try to help and support those in difficulty. The social work of Christians dates back to the Old Testament times thousands of years ago: "Give a right decision for the child who has no father, see to the cause of the widow", writes Isaiah the prophet. Today, congregations seek the opportunity to help those in need, and churches provide social institutions and homes for older people and people with disabilities who require special care.
Tip
Do I belong to some community? What can I do to help others in my place of residence or in my community?
God's word
"For which cause we do not give way to weariness; but though our outer being is getting feebler, our inner being is made new day by day."
(Paul's second letter to the Corinthians 4:16)