Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Rom. 12:10, 13)
The Bible teaches Christians “to serve one another” and to “practice hospitality.” This is something specific found only in the Christian religion and nowhere else.
When I was America, I lived with Christians and spent considerable time with them. I watched them closely and observed that despite me being a Hindu, they served me like I was a brother to them.
Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross and gave himself for humanity. There was no Christianity then—whom did Jesus sacrifice his life for? He died for all humanity, not for Christians alone. So this message of Christ of taking all our sufferings upon himself teaches Christians to work impartially. And then he also assures us that “when God is with you, you need not fear man.” This is a great assurance that he gives us.
I am very inspired by the Christian community’s service in the field of education and medicine. The most important thing is that they stay subjected to the teachings of Christ to serve humanity. They can do what they do because their service is joined to their faith.
Like Florence Nightingale, an English social reformer and the founder of modern nursing who set an example of considering her religion and service as one, Christians never take them to be two different things. That’s the beauty of Christians who dedicate their life for the service of humanity as a worship to their God.
We see this example in hospitals. Sometimes patients’ family members may refuse to touch them, yet Christian nurses serve such patients with great care. Their motivation and inspiration to make “serving others” as their motto in life comes from the Bible.
I am awestruck at the huge sacrifices this community makes for serving not their own fellow religious adherents, but serving everybody irrespective of their religion, caste, or creed.
Goswami Sushilji Maharaj is national president of the Indian Parliament of Religions, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. He is also a choreographer, actor, and spiritual guru.
