Who is my neighbor?

Because of recent headlines, it seems that the issue of ‘illegal immigration’ is front and center in the news and in the political debate. From where I sit, there are polar opposites, both passionate and both talking past each other.  If I believe what I hear, there are two incompatible things put forward, and there is no room for compromise.

In reading my bible, though, it does seem that there are two different things and they are not mutually exclusive.

Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

There is a single standard put forth for all people. It has multiple parts: 

·      To act justly

·      To love mercy

·      To walk humbly

In inverse order, the first is to be humble, not assuming the position of God but acknowledging that God alone it the one who judges, and that judgement is based on the nature of God.

The second is to love mercy. It’s important, because in Christ, we have received mercy in forgiveness…it is nothing we earned.  We do not become ‘worthy’ of mercy, it is given by God freely in response to faith.

Moreover, mercy is the basis for dealing with a neighbor.

Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” and told the story of the good Samaritan. Then he asked (Luke 10:36-37):

“Which of these …do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

There was no requirement for the victim of robbers to be ‘worthy’ of mercy, or for him to be an Israelite. Mercy was the outflow of compassion and of love (Romans 13:9-10) and met another human being at the point of need.

In the current environment, mercy may apply to those who are in fear of arrest; to families which fear the deportation of a parent; to those who are afraid of being forcibly returned to their country of origin.

If perfect love casts out fear, then mercy and love would seem to be demanded of those who profess Christ. To come alongside a neighbor to provide food and clothing, to pray for God’s help to resolve the situation, to not focus on the consequences of migration choices but on the people we have been given to be our neighbors.

To act justly remains the third requirement of all people. To act justly does require acknowledgement of the authority of government; it does require submission to authority (Romans 13:1-6).

Romans continues…with the New Covenant command to love our neighbor.

Romans 13:9-10 

The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Love is not conditioned on observing the law. If it were, we would all be excluded from the love of God.

So the question is not so much, “what are the requirements of the law?” as they are “what is the need of my neighbor?

If my neighbor needs food, clothing, shelter, or prayer if I CAN, it would seem to be God’s will that I help. 

Apart from the law, I am not told to judge the law…it is not my right to decide when and how it should be enforced. But I am called to love those caught in its breach and enforcement just as I am called to care for prisoners (Matthew 25:36-40). I am called to love my neighbor, to witness to the love of God, and to do good to those in need of mercy.

REGRESAR A LISTA DE ARTÍCULOS

REGRESAR A INICIO