Re: [TruthTalk] Love your neighbor as yourself

[Wm. Taylor]

Yeah, Slade, this is a tough one. If we could choose our neighbors, we would not likely face this sort of dilemma. It goes against all we "know" to extend ourselves to people whom we know are of evil -- or even questionable -- character. The moment we do we rock our world; we become vulnerable and any security we have is immediately at risk. Yet I agree with you: we must treat them as we would any other "neighbor." We are to love them as we love ourselves. Anyway, your thoughts are well-taken.   Thank you,   Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: Slade Henson To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2004 7:31 AM Subject: RE: [TruthTalk] Love your neighbor as yourself BT SAID -- I do not know how I would get along with [Hitler or Jeffrey Dahmer]. They may not be receptive to getting along. Still I do know this: no matter who moves next door, Jesus' commandment will not change. I am to love them the way I love myself -- or put another way, treat them the way I would like to be treated.   SLADE SAYS: The act of "loving" from Leviticus (which is quoted by Yeshua in his famous "love your neighbor" sermon) has nothing to do with warm fuzzies. Hebrew is a culture and a language of action... not of essence. We are commanded to LOVE which means we are commanded to ACT. I would ACT by speaking civilly to them, by helping them if they are ever doing something that looks like a second pair of hands would make the job a bit easier, or by opening up my home if they ever came a-knocking.