Biblical Answer

Understanding the Commandment to Love Our Neighbor

The commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves is often misunderstood as requiring us to feel fondness or affection for others. However, this is not the case. C.S. Lewis notes that loving our neighbor does not mean manufacturing affectionate feelings. Instead, we are called to act as if we love our neighbor, which means treating them with kindness and respect, just as we would want to be treated ourselves.

Displaying Behaviors of Love

The Bible does not call us to like our neighbor or have warm feelings toward them. Rather, we are called to love our neighbor by displaying a set of behaviors that demonstrate our love for them. This means being willing to serve and help others, even when we don't feel like it. As Paul writes in Galatians 5:13-14, "Use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Parenting and Loving Our Neighbor

As parents, we can model this kind of love for our children by treating them with kindness and respect, even when we're not feeling like it. We can also teach our children to love others by serving and helping those in need. By doing so, we can help our children develop a deeper understanding of what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is especially important in the context of family relationships, where love is to be learned and refined in the everyday moments of life. By modeling and teaching love, we can help our children develop a heart of love that will guide them throughout their lives.