“You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself…the scribe answered, ”this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.
(Mark 12:28-31, 33)
Jesus had many exchanges with the religious hierarchy and those who were trying to understand what Jesus was doing and who he was. He was interrogated for eating with those whom others would ignore or avoid. So a scribe asked him a tough question, “Out of all the commandments, which the most important?” Jesus answered calmly, without hesitation and explained the entire purpose of his ministry in those few words.
When asked the same question a rabbi answered “love your neighbor as yourself and all the rest is commentary.” This is so true; if you truly love your neighbor as yourself then the rest of the Bible can be fulfilled.
As an ally in this movement, I am frequently asked by people about my sexual orientation. People want to know why a straight person would put themselves in a position in which they can be possibly ridiculed and questioned. I calmly answer and remind them of a people that may not be like everybody else in the church, but are God’s children all the same. I speak about respect and demand that LGBTQ persons be recognized as our neighbors.
Sometimes it is difficult to acknowledge our neighbors. Our neighbors don’t always look, act, or like the same things we do. They may challenge us to change how we do ministry because they see a gap between our words and our actions. This past General Conference I attended as one of the on-site volunteer coordinators. I witnessed an outpouring of love and compassion. I also witnessed moments of out-right hatefulness. I heard such statements as, “homosexuals are from Satan”.
Reconciling ministry is hard -- I must remember that the people who attacked us are also God’s children and my neighbors. Even in their anger and fear, they will not be turned away. How do we invite and hold all those who are hurting and live into grace; abundant grace that can diminish the harm of hatefulness and heal the Body of Christ?
This Christmas season remember that little baby who came into world not knowing his purpose, but who changed the world. A tiny, maybe 6 lb. baby that arrived kicking and screaming, just like any other baby, but so different in many ways, pushed the boundaries of the day and still pushes today. That baby didn’t know his neighbors or the world around him, but loved anyway and grew-up to be one who still challenges us to look around and see our neighbors.
Merry Christmas!
Candie ODell
Seminary Intern at Reconciling Ministries Network, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
California-Pacific Annual Conference
Reconciling Ministries Network mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love.
