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Your Question:
What does it mean to 'love our neighbors as ourselves' in a chaotic world filled with noise and distractions?
Answer:
My friends, as a pastor, I've had the privilege of reflecting on what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves in a chaotic world. It's easy to get caught up in loving everyone equally, or loving certain groups because of our feelings or guilt. But the Bible tells us to love our neighbor because they're there, right in front of us. It's not about controlling who our neighbor is, but rather embracing them as a fellow human being created by God. When we think about loving ourselves, we often associate it with feelings of fondness or affection. However, loving ourselves means so much more than that. It's about thinking well of ourselves and recognizing our inherent worth as children of God. It's not about being self-centered, but rather about being secure in who we are and being able to love others genuinely. When we act as if we love our neighbor, we'll find that we actually do start to love them. It's a circular process where our actions lead to genuine feelings. As I reflect on this, I'm reminded of the importance of living out our faith in practical ways. It's not just about feeling warm and fuzzy towards our neighbors, but about actively showing them love and kindness. This can be as simple as forgiving someone who's wronged us, or doing a good turn for someone in need. When we do this, we're not just loving our neighbors, we're also loving ourselves and recognizing our shared humanity with them. It's a beautiful thing, and one that brings peace and joy to our lives.
Sources:
biblical critical theory
christopher watkin
mere christianity
c s lewis
introduction biblical ethics
robertson mcquilkin
meaning of marriage
timothy keller
leviticus
jay slklar
true sexual morality
daniel heimbach
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