Loving My Neighbor

When people ask me why I'm going to the Philippines, I could tell them about human trafficking and the suffering that is going on around the world... I could give them statistics and attempt to convey the desperate need for people to fight for justice on behalf of the exploited and suffering... But I think, at its core, the simplest answer is "in order to love my neighbor." But I feel as though that answer needs a bit more explanation... Throughout the New Testiment, we see a fundamental command to Christians to love their neighbors as themselves. In Mark 12:28-34, when Jesus is asked what the most important commandment is, He responds by saying it is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." He then says "The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus is asked about what must be done to inherit eternal life and His response is again 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Jesus is then asked who is our "neighbor" to which He responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan (copied below):

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I
will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three 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.

In this parable, we see that the Samaritan had compassion for the man who had been beaten and left for dead. Furthermore, he used his own resources to see to it that the man would be cared for. In the same way, many victims of slavery around the world are beaten and abused. There is no one to stand up for them and fight on their behalf. In almost every instance, power is on the side of the oppressor. These are the people who were created in God's image and who are close to the heart of God. These are the people who I am commanded to love. These people are my neighbors. As Gary Haugen states in his book, Just Courage, "In a world of injustice, loving intervention on behalf of the oppressed is simple obedience to Jesus’ most fundamental command to love our neighbor." How could I say that I love my neighbor if I don't stand up and fight for justice on his/her behalf? If you want to learn more about what the Bible says about God's heart for justice and the biblical mandate to fight on behalf of the poor and suffering, I would highly recommend Gary Haugen's books Just Courage and The Good News about Injustice. These books really deepened my understanding of God heart for the poor and oppressed and His love of justice for them.

I was also touched by Isaiah 58:5-11 where God describes worship that is acceptible and pleasing to Him:

"Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail."

We see from these verses, that God is not interested in our lip service when our hearts are not in it. God wants His children to actively love people by seeking justice, feeding the hungry, and providing shelter to the homeless and clothing to the naked. This is why I am moving to Cebu... so that I can be obedient to God's call to love my neighbor. As always, I would love to talk more about this if anyone has any questions.