God's Social Program
God the creator of heaven and earth of all that is seen and unseen put a social program in us. He said "love thy neighbor as thyself." Lev 19:18 and Mt 19:19
What does it mean to love thy neighbor as yourself if you can't even
talk to your neighbor in English, or about the same
things/ideas/traditions? As a sociologist and social psychologist I can
tell you that is not likely...Why? Because, people naturally gravitate
to those things/people/places that they were taught to 'like' or
appreciate or believe in. Does this mean that Christians cannot love non
Christians? No, it means that you can love them for who they are which
is loving them for being different. That is all. It does not mean you
have to share your life with them; unless you choose to. We don't have
to take the relationship any further than that unless we want to. It is
easier to love other Christians and as Christians we absolutely should
do that. As for others, we should just witness to them, so that they
will turn to Christ.
I was at church on Sunday and there were people of all races/ethnicities
and socio-economic backgrounds as revealed by their obvious physical
differences. Yet, on the inside... I knew that they were Christians and
when we smiled at each other or shook hands, I was shaking the hand or
smiling at another Christian. The color of skin was gone, we could have
been blue or green or pink it would not matter. This is the point.
Differences disappear when people are on the same page
mentally-spiritually! Social problems too disappear basing on the same
reasoning. Even economic differences disappear when we know we are and
or have been made the same through Jesus Christ. Those having more will
give more to those Christians having less. They give it freely as they
should to their Christian brother/sister. Can Christians give to others
outside of Christianity, yes and they should if they feel the need to do
that but in doing so, impress on those non Christians recipients that
their gift is coming from God our Lord and true Savior Jesus Christ.
Loving your neighbor is not a burden. It should not be and does not have
to be... God wants you to rest in Him. If your neighbor is different
from you, pray for his/her to be delivered, to be saved through the
recognition and acceptance of Jesus Christ. Then and only then we will
be able to love our neighbors as ourselves. There is no greater glory
for/to God than bringing someone to Christ.
So many discussions have come and gone and still go on as to how this is either impossible or possible... to love thy neighbor as thyself. Imagining as a person might outside of believing in God/Jesus Christ, the same scenario / social situation exists. No one cares to or even thinks about another person unless that other person is like him/herself; unless that other person exhibits something that the other person appears to have/know or desire and including aspire to. People with money draw people with money. People with similar backgrounds, similar preferences physical and spiritual draw like people. Simple as that. So if you think a top down government can make everyone the same, like each other... they can and it will be orchestrated that way and not of free choice. Christ came to remind us that we have free will in all situations, all social situations. And to make wise choices for ourselves, He knows too that programs have to be compatible. Read Acts 17:24 Why? Because, it asks each and every one of us to reach out to God, to be in a relationship with Him. Because, the number one important reason for loving your neighbor as yourself is to glorify God.
The reason is to understand yourself as a social entity and social
problem solver... however, the way forward to understanding yourself and being a social problem solver is
to first be in a relationship with the Creator... and then the way
forward is much easier personally and socially and social problems that do appear are less
conflictual and less detrimental individually and socially. Your neighbor appears as a
brother/sister and not your enemy. Romans
15:5 "May God who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live
in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of
Christ Jesus. The all of you can join together with one voice giving
praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
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