I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another, just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all [men] know that you are my disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].
John 13:34-35 (Amp)
Where does the extremist stand on this? For many years, even till date, disputes and even massive genocides have wrath the center of religion. Both inter-religious and intra-religious wars have been recorded for a long time. It’s still being recorded today. Faithfuls of various doctrines have argued and sometimes killed to defend their beliefs.
However, Jesus – the supposed founder of Christianity, who also is a revered prophet of Islam – stated, that there’s just one way you can prove to the world that you are his disciple. And that is only through the pure act of love.
This is not a call for you to throw aside all your beliefs and embrace the belief of another. True love does not require that. Love welcomes and accepts everyone in their diverse beliefs or doctrines. Whether a person adheres to your beliefs or not, it’s only by accepting the person (not his beliefs) in love that you show that you truly are a disciple of Jesus. If one desires to change his beliefs, let it be in accordance to his own wishes.
Remember, God loves the world. God love you while you were yet a sinner. That is the love of God demonstrated. Know that that love can never change even as God can never change. For God is eternal, and God is love. So love is eternal.
Paul made a remark in the scripture. He said: “We know no man after the flesh.” And to know a man by the flesh is to know a man by the things he is attached too on earth. To know a man as rich is to attach him to his riches on earth. To know a person as circumcised is to attach that man to a ritualistic rite associated with the people of the Jewish religion (or maybe just a medical procedure with worthy health wise reasons. And when you call one a sinner (I know this might not go well with some of you), you only associate man to a set of rules, dos and don’ts, or to a certain rite he is supposed to perform – the confession of Jesus Christ as His Lord).
Let me once again bring to your observation. “God loved you even while you were yet sinners.” That only defines that it makes no difference to him. The term sinner is something only recognized by men. And it’s only where a law was been transgressed that there is sin. Even you might choose to bring arguments to dispute this, but let’s not move away from our main focus.
Love is the only way. To accept a person truly in love is not to embrace him in the open and then you go plot against him, or how you can convert him to your beliefs in your closet. Brother! That is not true love. Even if you want something for someone, you must only allow him to want it for himself, then you go and assist him. But if he chooses a different path, love requires you accept him in his desired path and show him the love that is of you to offer.
Love, not defense or offense of your beliefs. Love is the only way you can show that you are a disciple of Christ.
Exploring The Kingdom 