There is no doubt that God calls us to love all people. Jesus’ parable of The Good Samaritan makes it crystal clear that we are to love our neighbor and everyone is our neighbor (Lk 10:29-37). The dilemma is that some are easier to love than others. We are not just to like those like us, but those different from us. When I speak of those different from us, I am really speaking of everyone since no two of us are exactly alike.
The simple truth is that God has created each of us unique. He is the potter, and we are the clay. Some of us have blue eyes and others brown. Some of us are right-handed, and others left. Some are gifted at one thing and others another. People hold different political views and even religious views. However, we were all made by God and made on purpose. The Psalmist declared: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psa 139:13-14). God has also redeemed people on purpose and for a purpose. Paul writes to the believers in Ephesus: “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Eph 2:10). There is no doubt that the more significant the difference between ourselves and others the more difficult it can be for us to treat them like a neighbor as Christ has taught us to do.
The good news is that we discover three principles from the life of Christ that empowers us to love different neighbors. First, loving others takes empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference. Jesus has empathy for people (Heb 4:14-16). As Jesus empathizes with us, we ought to empathize with one another. We can love different neighbors, because we can relate to them, and all others, at the place of our brokenness. We can follow Christ’s example and be empathetic and love them.
Second, loving different neighbors takes mercy. Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. Jesus showed mercy to others (Jn 8:4-11). On one occasion Jesus is confronted with an adulterer, and He has the power to punish her, but He chose mercy. Jesus speaks the truth to her: “From now on sin no more,” but he spoke these words with love, “Neither do I condemn you.” Jesus had the power to punish but chose to lovingly show mercy. As Jesus shows mercy, we ought to show mercy. We can love different neighbors without compromising the Bible. We can show mercy and stand for truth. But, we can’t claim to love like Christ loves and not show mercy.
Lastly, loving different neighbors takes compassion. Compassion is good-hearted commiseration and concern for the sufferings and misfortunes of others. Matthew records in his gospel: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt 9:36). Jesus had been traveling throughout numerous cities and villages and proclaimed the gospel and healed the sick. He had seen the failure of leaders in their responsibilities to care for those in need. They were in essence, leaderless. Jesus had compassion and in the next verses challenges us to do the same. We can love different neighbors when we allow the Spirit to fill us with Christ-like compassion.
I really wish I could say I am always good at loving people different than me. I am not, but I have discovered that as I grow in Christ and partner with Him, He has filled me with empathy, mercy, and compassion for others. I am not as consistently filled, as I ought, by more than I ever have been and I am growing. I desire to know God and make Him known. I desire to be more like Jesus. I want to love like Jesus. In all honesty, loving different people takes Jesus. Partnering with Him so He can fill us with His empathy, His mercy, His compassion – His love for others.
It is a true honor to do life with each of you. As we grow in our walk with God, we will grow in our love for others.