Who is my neighbor, what is my idol

"And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."                                              Romans 1:28-32 (NASB)

I've probably written about this before, but in this broken world we live in, we should come back to this teaching again and again until it sinks in.

The world is on fire, well, parts of it are physically so, but we're speaking in the metaphorical sense. People are angry. People are angry because they are hurting and afraid. The outflow of this is a world in chaos.

When I listen to the people around me, the majority of what I hear or read is anger at what I call "the other." "The other" is anything that is not me that I distrust or (perish the thought), even hate. Fear of "the other" has been around for centuries. Where does this fear of "the other" come from? It comes from worshiping the created rather than the creator. It comes from trusting in our own understanding and not loving our neighbors. All of the things the Apostle Paul lists as the fruits of a "depraved mind" come out because we are selfish.

Another concerning trend (and an old one), is the attachment to people of power and symbols. The first commandment is "you shall have no other gods beside me." The fourth commandment is "make no graven image." Certainly, I understand that these were commands for the people of Israel as they were starting their fledgling nation, and I understand that the Apostle Paul is clear that we are free from the law, but he also said "all things are permissible but not all things are beneficial." When we place so much value on symbols on this earth, we lose sight of the goal. The goal is the kingdom of God. If we are so focused on a statue, or a celebrity, or a political leader, or a flag, that we have lost sight of the pain of our neighbor, to the point of being angry with our neighbor, and worse yet, hurl insults, we have sinned directly toward them and God.

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be [l]liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell."                       Matthew 5:21-22

We need to get on our knees and pray that we are living the example that Jesus talks about here. It is natural for human beings to attach to that which we can perceive with our senses. For those who follow Jesus Christ, we are no longer simply natural creatures, but also need to be open to the Spirit of God so that we may know and live His perfect will. When we live by the spirit, it transforms us into a likeness of Christ in which we live the fruits of that spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindess, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

And from that same letter to the Galatians by the apostle Paul: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another."

So many times we are living by the flesh, seeking to fulfill its basest desires, instead of living by the Spirit. My good friend, Rev. Michael Booth, states it well. "Everyone has a different journey." If we are in Christ, we must recognize that my life experience and your life experience is going to be different from the life experience of another. We do not know the hidden pain that another person carries with them. We cannot understand the effect that monuments, or flags, or other earthly symbols may have on the mind and heart of another person. We can empathize. We can love. We can refrain from making selfish and hurtful statements. 

A flag is a piece of cloth, but when it brings pain to someone else, listen to them; hear their voice. Flags are temporary things of this world. Do not cling to this world. 

A statue is a piece of stone, metal, wood, or polymer, but when it brings pain to someone else, listen to them; hear their voice. Statues are temporary things of this world. Do not cling to this world. 

Nations rise and fall. Nations are governed by fallible humans. When the actions of a nation bring pain to someone else, listen to them; hear their voice. We are citizens of the Kingdom of God. Do not cling to this world. 

Do not be conceited. Seek justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with your God.