There are many religions or faith in the world and every faith or religion have a founder whose teachings and ways of life defines the religion and governs the ways of life and beliefs of the followers or disciples.

The Christian religion is founded by Christ. The believers and followers of the teachings of Christ are called Christians. The word Christian means " like Christ "(Acts 11:26). It was initially aimed at mocking the followers of Christ by the Jews because early believers in Christ lived the unique life of Christ based on his unique teachings.

Christ unique teachings centered on "LOVE". Christ is the only founder of a religion who taught his followers to love their enemies (Matthew 5:43-48), to do good to them that hate them and pray for them who despitefully use and persecute them.

He even taught and said if somebody slap you on the left cheek, give him the right cheek also (Matthew 5:39). He taught, none retaliation and forgiveness for all offences.

He demonstrated such a life through out his life on Earth. Even on the cross he prayed for those that tortured and crucified him that God should forgive them because they know not what they do. He did not pray that God should kill or destroy them even though he has the power to kill or destroy anyone.

After Peter tried to defend and fight for him by cutting off the ear of one of those that came to arrest him. Jesus rebuked Peter and told him to sheath his sword, that those that kill with the sword, shall also perish with the sword ( Matthew 26:51-52). He took the cut off ear and fixed it back to the owner.

He lived a life of love and compassion towards all men. He won his converts or disciples through love and compassion and not through force, fear, threat of death, sword or war. He fought no man with any weapon in other to make converts. After preaching he left the people to make voluntary choice or decision to believe him or reject him.

He hated or killed no one because they rejected him but He rather prayed and loved them . He taught us to love God with all our heart, all our soul and all strength, to love our neighbour as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39) and to love our enemies. No wonder some of his hearers said " nobody ever spake like this man".

Such a life of love can only be lived by the power , grace or strength of God. That's why He (Jesus) said without me ye can do nothing. This life of love of Jesus is what is called " Holiness". Without this holiness no person can get to heaven no matter the religion, tribe colour or race . Only Christ can give such a power or grace to live such a life of love. Any so called Holiness without the manifestation of Christ love that loves God , loves your neighbour and loves your enemies is deceptive and fake.

Your neighbour can be a Christian, a Muslim, a pagan, Buddhist, a Hindu, an atheiest from any tribe, colour or race. Failure to love them is a sin before God.

The rich man went to hell not because he was rich but because he did not love his sickly and hungry, neighbour Lazarus. He did not love Lazarus because he did not feed him when he was hungry and did not take care of him when he was sick. Because of this he sinned against God and went to eternal hell. He might have been a moral religious Jew ( no fornication, no adultery, no stealing, lying etc) , giving great sums of money for religious projects or holding religious positions. Absence of love for his neighbour disqualified him for heaven.

To live these Jesus' love life, one must receive him into his or her heart , for as many as received him to them gave He power to become the sons of God (John 1:12). That power is the power to love.

By Christian Z.