Christianity: more by example than by word

by Letters Editor · July 29, 2010

From Bernard Staughan, Cape Town:

Sincere and hearty congratulations to The Southern Cross for publishing Chris Moerdyk�s invaluable contribution to the debate that is slowly but surely gathering momentum� �� among the laity especially� �� on what is truly meant by �being a Christian� .

Christ came, to establish not a �church� as we now know it, but to found God�s kingdom on earth, and to spread universally his (frightening) injunction to us to care for all and sundry for we �must set no bounds to our love, just as God sets no bounds to his� (Mt 5:48).

Christianity as taught by Christ, more by example than by word, is summed up by the second of the two great commandments, from which it is abundantly clear that living a good Christian life does not mean faithfully sitting in the pews every Sunday as I do, and as actively fostered by �the Church�s� teaching that we must attend Mass on Sundays under pain of serious sin!

It means something far less comfortable than that. It means putting into practice what Jesus taught regarding our inescapable duty to help all who are in need just as we would wish to be helped if we were in need, hungry, thirsty, with no shelter, ill clad, cold.

And, as Mr Moerdyk says, what a difference it would make if all of us 7 million Catholics in South Africa were to put into practice Christ�s uncompromising injunction.