Love Your Neighbor

      In the Hebrew Scriptures there are hundreds of commands. Jesus was once asked what the greatest command was.  He said in essence, love God and love your neighbor.  I want to focus on the second command in the cliff note version of ethics from Jesus—loving our neighbors.  In the New Testament, we are told repeatedly to love one another.  Honestly, Christians struggle with this; I know I do.  When Ghandi reflected on his lifelong interactions with those who claim to be Christian he famously said, “I like your Christ.  I do not like your Christians.  Your Christian are so unlike your Christ.”   Ouch.  
      How do we love our neighbors? First, as much as possible avoid “othering” people.  It has been said, “Everybody has a them” (Love Them Anyway, Choco De Jesus, 39).  We are currently immersed in a combative political season, and it is easy to see the “other side” as the enemy.  Strive to see the deeper values that are at play when you engage politically with people.  Many times core values of safety, acceptance, and love are at play.  Both sides are often wrestling with some form of fear and anxiety.  For the Christian, even if we determine that someone is truly an enemy then we remember that Jesus commanded us to love our enemies.  Sometimes I am hit powerfully about how Jesus interacted with Judas at the last supper.  Jesus had poured years of his life into his friendship with Judas and yet betrayal is how it ends.  My temptation would be to verbally lash out at Judas during supper, instead Jesus washes his feet along with the others who will abandon him and Peter who would deny him.
       Second, actually listen.  Many of us live in our social media echo chamber, and our social groups tend to be people who think like us.  When was the last time you actually listened to someone you disagree with politically or religiously?  People’s opinions are not formed in a void.  Ask to hear their story.  When in a conversation, listen to understand, not just thinking of what to say next.  Do you really hear and see people?  In a 2021 McKinsey study that surveyed leaders, when asked why people left their jobs most managers said pay.  But when they asked the actual employees, they responded differently.  They gave relational reasons saying they did not feel recognized and valued by their supervisors (How To Know A Person, David Brooks, 10).   In essence, they did not feel heard or seen.   Go through life with a posture of active curiosity about people.  Every person is a bit of a mystery.  Eagerly explore the mystery that is the people around you.
       Third, serve others.  One of the most powerful ways to love people is to serve them.  Years ago I went to help a friend of mine move.  He worked at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.  This is a huge organization, so I was shocked when I noticed the CEO of the hospital carrying boxes with the rest of the volunteer moving crew.  At the time there had to be at least 1,200 employees at the hospital; there is no way the CEO could do that for every employee, but in this case he stepped in to help.   Jesus, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, stepped in for each of us.   God the Son became fully human.  He lived life on our terms.  He came and preached, healed and helped.  And ultimately, he died on a cross to save us from our sins.  Loving others is rarely convenient.  When was the last time you or I offered sacrificial service to someone?       
      Dr. David Jeremiah says “love is oxygen for the soul” ( A Life Beyond Amazing, 4).  Let’s live our lives in such a way that we are a refreshing breath of fresh air.  What would this world be like if we actually loved like Jesus?
Pastor Derek Dickinson
Journey Christian Church