I used to work with a great guy who tired very easily of long, drawn-out explanations. When we got to that point in a discussion, he would say very quickly, 'Bottom line, buddy, bottom line!' meaning cut to the chase.
I've been struggling with wordiness for a long time, but Gary's admonition jumped into my mind this morning, so here is my bottom line on the pandemic, the racial unrest, and the handling of immigrants at the border.
Jesus said that the two greatest commandments were to love God and to love one another.
Jesus made no exception as to who was included in 'one another.' Love means care, serve, protect, support, advocate, pray for.
He made no exception as to circumstances. He never said that the two most important commandments were null and void during a pandemic, or during a Republican administration, or after the year 2000.
Jesus meant that we are to help anyone, anywhere, anytime, in any way we are able. Period.
Based on this, the way we've treated black people, immigrants, indigenous people, and many others in the U.S. is wrong. We must repent and make the structural, cultural, legal, political, and financial changes necessary to make it right.
Jesus had no interest in exclusion. As Christians and as human beings we shouldn't either.
God bless you!
Jim Donaher is a writer, blogger, and author of the soon to be published, "Call Him, He's Home: Learning Prayer to Start and Grow Your Relationship with God" Click the title to read an excerpt.
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Quote and share with attribution. Thank you!