LOVE THY NEIGHBOR

This photograph on the right was posted on Pinterest today; I have a similar one as a sticker on my truck.

(In case you can't read it, it says "Love Thy Neighbor - Thy Homeless Neighbor, Thy Muslim Neighbor, Thy Black Neighbor, Thy Gay Neighbor, Thy White Neighbor, Thy Jewish Neighbor, The Christian Neighbor, Thy Atheist Neighbor, Thy Racist Neighbor, Thy Addicted Neighbor.")

  And my eye was caught by a comment made about it, by a woman who maintained "that it isn't right to love RACISTS - they are bad people!"

Hold it right there, people.

Do you see the problem here?

The commandment is NOT "love people who are capable of love only" - NOT "be loving to those who can return that love in a socially acceptable way" -  NOT "love everyone except those that you don't feel deserve your love."

Because isn't that called judging? And haven't we been commanded to not do that?

Can you imagine how it must feel to be a racist? To hate/distrust/despise people based on skin color/ethic background?

It must get awfully lonely.  Or you surround yourself by other lonely racists.

I admit the quandary here.

How to love someone who hates.

But you can't fight fire with fire - you can only conquer with love.