Love thy Neighbor

I know you have heard the phrase "love your neighbor as yourself" whether you are a religious person or not. It is a very popular saying that most people take lightly. I too took this commandment as a good idea but irrelevant in our fast pace society. I mean who has time for neighbors anyway? I don't believe that most people can honestly say they even know the people who live next door to them. Sad I know. Toto, I don't think we're in Mayberry any more.

I know, I know, this doesn't make much sense but I'm getting there just hold on! Ok here we go-- I go to Fellowship Bible Church and there is a Mosque being built right next to us. When I first found out about our soon to be Muslim neighbors I was a little unsure about the whole thing. But our church has been really positive about it! Our pastor talked about it yesterday at church. He really brought to life that seemingly irrelevant commandment that I mentioned earlier. They are now our neighbors and we are to love them and be kind to them just like we would be to anyone else. So we invited them to an ice cream social we had at our church last night. It was amazing! They are some of the coolest people you will ever meet.

It was great to hear them say how much our kindness and hospitality meant to them. I think that is what Jesus had in mind. He just wants us to be nice to people no matter what social separation might be in place. It is through living Jesus in our lives that we will get people's attention and show them what His love looks like.

I know what you're thinking, big deal you invited some Muslims to an ice cream party-- whoop de do! I know it sounds simple but sadly it is exceptionally rare. This just doesn't happen everywhere. Our pastor did some research and found some churches in various places in the country that are located close to mosques. He wanted to ask them how they handled the situation and told them about us having our new neighbors over for ice cream. He said there was always a short pause over the phone followed by a "you did what?" So like I said, this kind of stuff just doesn't happen-- though it should.

Anyway, I have a feeling this will be an awesome learning experience for me!

Here is the passage in the Bible that talks about this...

Matthew 22:

35 One of them (one of the Pharisees), a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him,

36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"

37 And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'

38 "This is the great and foremost commandment.

39 "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'