Love Your Neighbor

Every time I write one of these blog entries, I think to myself that it is the most important thing I have ever written. Is that a sign that I take myself too seriously, perhaps?

Well, this blog entry is the same.

My religious upbringing was not too tolerant of differing viewpoints. And as I read stories in the news, and as I listen to people's conversations nowadays, it seems at least this corner of the world is not getting more tolerant. It is getting less!

I may be wrong. Maybe others are right to take an intolerant stance for the cause of their beliefs. For them, that is their truth and they will probably die to defend it, thinking there is no other way. Although saddened, I can accept their right to their view even though they cannot accept mine, where it happens to differ from theirs.

Unfortunately, the closed-minded will not be able to hear the message that I present here, with them specifically in mind.

I would like to present to the reader a better way of life, a way of getting along with others, a way to make it easier to "love your neighbor" without compromising any of your core beliefs. If it matters to you, I believe this was Jesus' stance, as well.

Remember the story of Jesus with the woman at the well?

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. (John 4:13-15 KJV)

What was Jesus referring to when he talked about water that would forever quench her thirst? I believe he was referring either to himself, or to what he presented, true worship of God. This can be the topic of a future discussion, as what I want to talk about here and now are the implications.

What ARE the implications of water that would quench all thirst?

Was the woman at the well Jewish, as Jesus was? You know what - for the purposes of our discussion here it really doesn't matter! He was offering to quench her thirst, no matter where she came from.

Just for a moment, try this thought on for size- What Jesus presents to us all can quench our thirst, at a personal level, wherever we come from.

Jesus can satisfy the Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, atheist, even someone who isn't yet aware of God. In a way, you could say that the 'path' of any honestly seeking person will lead to Jesus and what he talked about.

Those who do not seek? The hardships of life will eventually change them, open them up. God softens the ground (the listener) with rain (life's problems) all in God's good time. Not our job!

I don't believe Jesus intended for us to contend, or fight, with others. I think this is why he healed the centurion's ear and rebuked Peter for chopping it off (Luke 22). I also remember a scripture that spoke against forming factions -

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1Corinthians 1:12,13 KJV)

Forming factions separates us when we should be together.

Where does this spirit of contention and competition come from? What is the result of contention, and destructive competition? Separation. And if you could sum up in one word the legacy that we inherit from the Fall of Man wouldn't it be separation? Separation from God and from our fellow man is what we choose and what we are cursed with, until we see that there is a better way.

And there IS a better way! Stop seeing those around you as your enemy, and start seeing them as your brother.

ADDED LATER:

Although I think I stated my views in a fairly straightforward manner above, maybe the meaning will be lost. So I want to offer further explanation:

It sickens me that many Christians nowadays think that they must fight those of other faiths. Not only does this keep us on different 'sides' but does not provide the answers/ satisfaction/ thirst-quenching that Jesus wanted us to communicate to others.

If modern Christians were able to see Jesus as the fulfillment or culmination of humankind's earlier expressions of a search for God, the true meaning of the good news of the gospel could be realized, and more easily communicated.

God does not compete with any. To say that God competes with any other entity puts that entity on the same level as God.

The Bible is one big story, that we were meant to learn from. In Genesis, Cain's lame defense"Am I my brother's keeper?" carried an implied "YES, in fact, you are!" and this is the very same directive of Jesus -- "Love your neighbor as yourself." Cain and Abel did not worship God in the same way, but they were still brothers, not enemies.

Your brother IS your neighbor, and your neighbor IS your brother, even if they be Hindu, Mormon, Catholic, believe in nothing at all, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster.