Ministers' Blog

Christian Aid Week and the Three Loves

Abraham was charged by God to teach his children ‘the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just’ (Genesis 18:19) and ever since we have wondered what that means.

Jonathan Sacks gives a superb summary of how the Jews have interpreted this instruction in his latest book, Morality.

Love your neighbour.

Love the stranger.

Hear the cry of the otherwise unheard.

Liberate the poor from their poverty.

Care for the dignity of all.

Let those who have more than they need share their blessings with those who have less.

Feed the hungry, house the homeless, and heal the sick in body and mind.

Fight injustice, whoever it is done by and whoever it is done against.

And do these things because, being human, we are bound by a covenant of human solidarity,

Whatever our colour or culture, class or creed’.

Jonathan Sacks goes on to describe these as moral principles. They have to do with conscience, not wealth or power and without them freedom will not survive. They are the foundation principles of Christian Aid Week.

There are three loves – love of neighbour, love of the stranger – and love of God. Jesus affirms this in the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Rev John Rackley

John has recently restarted his own blog. Read this news item: John Rackley’s blog