One Anothering One Another
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35).
Jesus truly wants us to one another one another. When we look for "one another" in our Bible we see a great many verses. Even the seemingly negative ones really have a positive meaning. Our Bible is God's Word, God's Word is Jesus, and we know that all Scripture comes from Jesus' heart (2 Timothy 3:16).
"One another" is right there in the centre of God's heart. It speaks about what happens within the group.
Jesus tells us that when we come to Him we can begin to "live life and live it to the full" (John 10:10). One anothering is part of this.
Over the years I often noted the "one another" Scriptures during my quiet times. Recently I felt called to seek out and then print off dozens and dozens from a number of Bible translations. I then spent time reading and pondering them; I was like a herd of cows grazing rich pasture, going from one verse to the next, mulling over the words, seeing God's deep desire for us to be "one, as [Jesus, Father God and Holy Spirit] are one" (John 17:11).
We are each uniquely hand made in the "image and likeness" of God (Genesis 1:26). Because God is essentially relational, (God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit eternally), we also are relational. Jesus, Head of His church, wants us to live this out.
Early in my study I thought that the disciple John was the biggest "one another" author .. But no, "one another" is extensively in Paul's letters and in Peter and in Hebrews, (the Jewish people who knew themselves as "God's own", had been given the Law centuries before, and what we call the Old Covenant has "one another" appearing in Leviticus in the same sense as I see it in the New Testament).
(Perhaps I see John's "one another" verses so clearly because I am John, and am very aware that John was "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 21:7, 21:20); he was in such a breathtakingly beautiful relationship with our Lord).
Themes
There are themes among the "one another" verses; the very big one is "love one another".
Here are some of the "one another" verses I found; they cover many aspects of our lives:
Loving One Another
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34).
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8).
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love" (Galatians 5:13).
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).
And what I believe to be a very big "one another" for our generations; sharing our time, our home, our table:
"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling" (1 Peter 4:9).
"Community" means being known as belonging to and being with one another, positioning ourselves with one another. Remember how Peter was asked if he was with Jesus and he said "no". Three times he did this; but then he knew differently and his life was changed. "Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life'" (John 6:68). We are asked to one another one another and be with one another.
"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God" (Romans 15:7).
"I appeal to you,
brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you
agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among
you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought" (1 Corinthians 1:10).
"No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,' declares the Lord. 'For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more'" (Jeremiah 31:34)
Justice With One Another
"Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another" (Leviticus 19:11).
"This is what the Lord Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another'" (Zechariah 7:9).
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
We see God's desire that we "one another" one another in many ways, indeed in every part of our lives. This is far from "just on Sundays" and far from "just my group".
In Acts Chapter 2 the new Christian church was established. The people were so much in community that they would have been rubbing shoulders pretty much all the time. We know that they visited, ate, prayed and worshipped together and in each others' homes. They shared things and helped each other out in every aspect of living. Their children would have played together when young and then married as they came into adulthood.
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:42-47).
Christians' neighbours saw their active and loving community, their transparency, their generosity and the richness of their lives. Scripture expressly tells us that they won "favour" among the people and many of those same people "were saved" and joined them to also walk with Jesus.
These early Christians called themselves "The Way" because their lifestyle and commitments were so different from anything humanity had seen before. They knew that they were being led by Jesus into this new lifestyle, this new "way" (John 14:5-6).
Do we see anything of "The Way" today?
The world may not know it, but they are relying on us to start making things right .. to bring some reality and honesty of care and community and inter-relationship into our screen dominated lives.
I now know many people who would love to find a husband or a wife; women, men, young and older, many. They find it incredibly hard to connect with new people. Nobody trusts anyone; everybody's motives seem suspect.
When my friends go to a church they find an effusive, well trained "greeter" then are ignored. Everyone else is already in their clique.
I know these single people, they are sincere, intelligent, and have good jobs, they are fun, energetic and generous. They are Christian. You know, the kind of people we all want as our friends and would want our children to marry!
Loneliness is epidemic in Western societies. So many of us find it near impossible to make new friends; we find impenetrable walls everywhere. People seem to be surrounded by their own shiny plastic shield, phone in hand connecting them to an artificial world, conversing as though they are in a movie, unconcerned that they will never meet or have anything to do with the celebrities and professional sports people who are central to the virtual world.
Our
understanding of relationships and connecting seems to have been damaged as our
societies have become wealthier. We seem to let people go so easily, just as we
change our cars and clothes. The idea of family is under attack in all Western
countries. We are also letting go of our values, those foundations of living
which have supported our cultures for generations, and which were largely
introduced by Jesus and His people through the centuries.
What to do? These problems have no simple answers, but the questions they generate are real. As in everything, we can find our answers in Jesus!
I believe that one anothering helps. It brings lives into contact in very real ways and opens the way for hearts and minds to talk and share with other hearts and minds. It opens the way for true conversations and relationships to form. And it shows shallowness and "political correctness" for what it is.
Sure it will be risky. To invite people that you do not know from church to your house, or to offer real and practical help to others who are struggling will be very daunting. It may be even difficult to find those facing troubles, many people will take care to hide any sign of struggle while at church (where we feel we may only show our successful, victorious face).
But isn't this what Jesus asks of us in His Word? He tells us that it will be hard. The New Testament is packed with stories of struggle, persistence and perseverance. The good Samaritan crossed social barriers (when everyone else had crossed the street to avoid the problem), he gave of his time, his money, (hotels are expensive!) and likely got blood on his clothes; "he had compassion" (Luke 10:33). Jesus became famous for showing compassion. Is it our turn now?
Bless
us all.
Different Words
Some translations use different words. There are also many "each other" verses in our Bibles. These are so like the "one another" verses. For example in the NIV: "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other" (Mark 9:50).
Praise
Jesus.
"Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive
one another". (Leviticus 19:11)
" .. be at peace with one another"
(Mark 9:50)
" .. wash one another's feet" (John
13:14)
" .. love one another .." (John 13:34)
" .. love one another .." (John
15:12)
" .. love one another" (John 15:17)
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly
love .." (Romans 12:10)
" .. honour one another above
yourselves" (Romans 12:10)
"Live in harmony with one another
.." (Romans 12:16)
" .. love one another .." (Romans
13:8)
" .. stop passing judgment on one
another" (Romans 14:13)
"Accept one another, just as Christ
accepted you .." (Romans 15:7)
" .. instruct one another" (Romans
15:14)
"Greet one another with a holy kiss
.." (Romans 16:16)
" .. when you come together to eat, wait
for one another" (1 Corinthians 11:33)
" .. have equal concern for one
another" (1 Corinthians 12:25)
" .. greet one another with a holy
kiss" (1 Corinthians 16:20)
"Greet one another with a holy kiss"
(2 Corinthians 13:12)
" .. serve one another in love"
(Galatians 5:13)
"If you keep on biting and devouring one
another .. you will destroy one another" (Galatians 5:15)
"Let us not become conceited, provoking
and envying one another" (Galatians 5:26)
"Carry one another's burdens .."
(Galatians 6:2)
" .. be patient, bearing with one another
in love" (Ephesians 4:2)
"Be kind and compassionate to one another
.." (Ephesians 4:32)
"Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other" (Ephesians 4:32)
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns
and spiritual songs" (Ephesians 5:19)
"Submit to one another out of reverence
for Christ" (Ephesians 5:21)
" .. in humility consider one another better
than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3)
"Do not lie to one another .."
(Colossians 3:9)
"Bear with one another .."
(Colossians 3:13)
" .. forgive whatever grievances you may
have against one another" (Colossians 3:13)
"Teach .. one another" (Colossians 3:16)
" .. admonish one another"
(Colossians 3:16)
" .. make your love increase and overflow
for one another" (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
" .. love one another" (1
Thessalonians 4:9)
" .. encourage one another .." (1
Thessalonians 4:18)
" .. encourage one another .." (1
Thessalonians 5:11)
" .. build one another up .." (1
Thessalonians 5:11)
"Encourage one another daily .."
(Hebrews 3:13)
" .. spur one another on toward love and
good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24)
" .. encourage one another" (Hebrews
10:25)
" .. do not slander one another"
(James 4:11)
"Don't grumble against one another
.." (James 5:9)
"Confess your sins to one another
.." (James 5:16)
" .. pray for one another" (James
5:16)
" .. love one another deeply, from the
heart" (1 Peter 3:8)
" .. live in harmony with one another
.." (1 Peter 3:8)
" .. love one another deeply .." (1
Peter 4:8)
"Offer hospitality to one another without
grumbling" (1 Peter 4:9)
"Each one should use whatever gift he has
received to serve one another .." (1 Peter 4:10)
" .. clothe yourselves with humility
toward one another .." (1 Peter 5:5)
"Greet one another with a kiss of
love" (1 Peter 5:14)
" .. love one another" (1 John 3:11)
" .. love one another" (1 John 3:23)
" .. love one another" (1 John 4:7)
" .. love one another" (1 John 4:11)
" .. love one another" (1 John 4:12)
" .. love one another" (2 John 5)
Amen.
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