Telling people you love them is important in Christianity for several reasons:
Following the Teachings of Jesus: Jesus emphasized the importance of love in his teachings. He taught his followers to love one another and even to love their enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). Expressing love is seen as a way to live out these teachings and emulate the example of Christ.
Fulfilling the Greatest Commandments: Jesus identified the two greatest commandments as loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). Telling people you love them is a way to fulfill the second of these commandments by demonstrating love for your neighbors.
Building Strong Relationships: Love is a fundamental building block of healthy relationships. Telling people you love them fosters emotional connection and trust, which are important in building strong, supportive, and loving relationships with family, friends, and others.
Practicing Christian Virtues: Love is one of the core virtues in Christianity. Expressing love is a way to practice and cultivate this virtue in your life, along with other virtues like kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.
Witnessing to Your Faith: By showing love to others and telling them you love them, you are acting as a witness to your Christian faith. Your love can serve as an example of the transformative power of Christ's love in your life.
Spreading the Gospel: In Christian evangelism, demonstrating love and kindness to others is often seen as a way to open doors for sharing the message of the Gospel. When people see the love you have for them, they may be more receptive to hearing about your faith.
Bearing Fruit of the Spirit: In Galatians 5:22-23, love is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit. When you express love, you are manifesting the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, which is an important aspect of Christian living.
Promoting Forgiveness: Love also involves forgiveness. When you love someone, you are more likely to forgive them when they wrong you, which is another important Christian principle (Matthew 6:14-15).
In summary, telling people you love them is important in Christianity because it aligns with the teachings of Jesus, helps you fulfill the greatest commandments, builds strong relationships, cultivates Christian virtues, serves as a witness to your faith, and can open doors for sharing the Gospel. It is a practical way to live out the love and compassion that are central to the Christian faith.