THE TWO SIDES OF BEING A CHRISTIAN

THE TWO SIDES OF BEING A CHRISTIAN

Many people think that being a Christian is primarily about praying, attending Mass, joining novenas, participating in Bible studies, or going to church every Sunday. There is nothing wrong with these activities. In fact, they are important expressions of our faith.

However, I believe that Christianity has two sides, and many of us sometimes focus on only one side.

The first side is loving God. The second side is loving our neighbor.

In the Gospel, Jesus simplified the Ten Commandments into two great commandments: love God and love your neighbor. In other words, our love for God should be visible through the way we treat other people.

This raises a question that has been bothering me lately. How exactly do we express our faith through action?

Many Christians sincerely want to help others, but they simply do not know where to begin. They are willing to serve but do not know who needs help, where the needs are, or how they can contribute.

Does anyone have an answer to that?

Perhaps the answer lies in social networking—not merely social media as a platform for sharing photos and opinions, but social networking as a way of connecting people who need help with people who can provide help.

For example, there are always people in need inside prisons, hospitals, orphanages, evacuation centers, disaster-stricken communities, and poor neighborhoods. At the same time, there are also many people who are willing to donate, volunteer, teach, counsel, or simply listen.

The challenge is connecting them.

Perhaps Christians can serve as gatekeepers, coordinators, or even traffic officers who help direct resources and volunteers to where they are most needed. Not everyone is called to preach from a pulpit. Some may be called to organize, coordinate, or build bridges between people.

I have often wondered whether churches, chaplaincies, ministries, and faith-based organizations could work together more closely despite doctrinal differences. After all, hunger does not ask whether a volunteer is Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, or from another Christian denomination. A patient in a hospital bed does not care about theological debates. A disaster victim simply needs help.

Maybe this is one area where Christians can unite in common missions while respecting their differences.

According to various international studies, volunteering and community engagement not only benefit recipients but also improve the mental and emotional well-being of volunteers themselves. In other words, when we help others, we are often helped in return.

St. Paul reminded Christians to be faithful workers in God's vineyard. He did not say we should only pray. He challenged us to become workers.

That is the second side of Christianity.

Faith without action becomes passive. Action without faith can lose its spiritual purpose. But when faith and action come together, Christianity becomes a living force for good.

Perhaps that is what Jesus meant when He called us to be His voice, His hands, and His feet in the world.

The question therefore is not whether we love God. The real question is: how are we showing that love to our neighbors today?

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

www.facebook.com/ike.seneres  iseneres@yahoo.com  senseneres.blogspot.com  09088877282/06-29-2027

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