Sat, Nov 7, 2009
Loving My Neighbor Justly
Jesus indicated to the lawyer that he indeed was right that his chief goal should be to love God with his whole being and to love his neighbor as his self. The problem arises when selfishness unseats good theology. (A common problem - we believe the right thing, but do nothing.) "Who is my neighbor?" He might as well have asked, "Who do I not have to love?" Jesus responds with the parable of the compassionate Samaritan.
But note the illustration that Jesus chose to show us how loving one's neighbor is walked out. Addressing injustice. Jesus could well have used an example of a difficult relative or a stubborn peer in the church or a mean-spirited next-door-neighbor, but he doesn't. He uses the story of a man who was beaten and robbed. Loving our neighbors looks like social justice.
But note the illustration that Jesus chose to show us how loving one's neighbor is walked out. Addressing injustice. Jesus could well have used an example of a difficult relative or a stubborn peer in the church or a mean-spirited next-door-neighbor, but he doesn't. He uses the story of a man who was beaten and robbed. Loving our neighbors looks like social justice.