Relacionamentos
Os relacionamentos são centrais na vida cristã. A Bíblia orienta sobre amizade, casamento, família e convivência, sempre tendo o amor como fundamento de toda relação.
Amor e amizade
O amigo ama em todo tempo. A Bíblia valoriza amizades verdadeiras que edificam, fortalecem e desafiam ao crescimento mútuo.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Two are better than one because they have a better reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falls, for he has not another to help him up.
And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Casamento e família
O casamento é aliança sagrada. O marido deve amar a esposa como Cristo amou a Igreja, e ambos devem cultivar respeito e submissão mútua.
Husbands, love your wives even as the Christ also loved the congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones} and gave himself for her,
that he might sanctify and cleanse her in the washing of water by the word,
So ought husbands to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself.
Nevertheless, let each one of you do likewise, let each one so love his wife even as himself, and let the wife see that she reverences her husband.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husband, as unto the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife even as the Christ is head of the congregation, {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones} and it is he who gives saving health to the body.
Wives, be subject to your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter against them.
And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
House and riches are the inheritance from fathers, but the prudent wife is from the Lord.
Who can find a valiant woman? for her price is far above precious stones.
Beth
Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
Convivência saudável
Os relacionamentos florescem quando tratamos os outros como gostaríamos de ser tratados, com amor crescente e caráter maduro.
Therefore, all things whatsoever ye desire that men should do unto you, so also shall ye do unto them, for this is the law and the prophets.
Honour thy father and thy mother, and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
And the Lord make you to multiply and make charity to abound among you and toward all men, even as it is with us toward you,
But if any provide not for his own and specially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? and what communion does light have with darkness?
For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the slave of Christ.
Ye also, giving all diligence to the same, show forth virtue in your faith; and in virtue, knowledge;
and in knowledge, temperance; and in temperance, patience; and in patience, fear of God;
and in fear of God, brotherly love; and in brotherly love, charity.
A good reputation is rather to be chosen than great riches and good grace rather than silver and gold.