Loving Our Neighbors

2000-12-14 00:51:00

JJ:

Jahnihah, you are a piece of work. You throw out more false accusations in less space than anyone I have ever met. You are good at throwing out accusations, but I do not even see an attempt to back them up. Do you really believe this is the path that Christ would have you follow? Is there even one person in your life that feels the pure love of the Master radiating from you?

Let me pick one accusation that should be easy if your assessment of me is correct.

Jahnihah:

"You say one thing, and then DO another."

JJ:

Give me even one example of this without using a nebulous, angry or fallaciously worded attack.

I am a big believer in following that which I teach and if I learn of a flaw here I will be happy to work on it.

You accuse me of betraying that which is sacred because I labor for money whereas you claim to be squeaky clean because you say you work 7 days a week 24 hours a day in "your neighbor's welfare" receiving no money at all.

I would be interested in exploring whether or not you practice what you preach here.

Where do you get your money to buy food, clothing and housing? Unless you have savings or an inheritance it would seem that you are receiving money for some type of work you are doing. You are also online and have computer access and this costs money. How do you pay for this?

I suspect that if you answer this truthfully that the finger of accusation you pointed at me will turn upon yourself.

Or perhaps you are living off the mercy of reluctant friends. If this is the case then consider this scripture:

"Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer." [Doctrine & Covenants (D&C) 42:42]

If you are not laboring to earn your own way (which you claim is hypocrisy in me) then (unless you have a nest egg) someone else is laboring for you. This runs contrary to the scripture here which you claim to believe. You may be working at calling all to your version of repentance, but if you are idle to works that provide you with bread and garments then this is not in harmony with the scripture.

You issue this challenge:

"If you want to teach me, then teach me something other than what you ARE -- if you can."

JJ:

I do not recall teaching anything about what I am, except one who is attempting to be a disciple of the Christ.

You want me to teach you something. Okay, I will attempt to teach you something that appears to be something we all need to hear.

In my last post I mentioned the importance of loving our neighbors as ourselves and pointed out to you that we are your neighbors with the hope that you would show more love and civility toward the people on the list.

On this suggestion you made the following response:

"My neighbors don't personally target me when all those around me are at least as guilty."

JJ:

No one has targeted you. You have accused without cause and others have defended themselves.

Jahnihah:

"Think long and hard about that, JJ, because those who call themselves my neighbors and prove otherwise are wolves in sheep's clothing -- certainly such are enemies."

JJ:

It appears that you see the loving people on this list as your enemies. That is sad indeed.

Jahnihah:

"My neighbors don't exert force upon me, just as I don't exert force upon them."

JJ:

No one has exerted any force on you. You do not have to be here. Diane said it well: "If I go into someone else's house, I will abide by their rules and expect others to do the same in mine."

You may not think of this list as a home, but many here do see members as "family" and "neighbors" and thus it is a home to many. By not honoring the rules of the house we call Keys is violating the agency of others just as much as the pushy salesman who knocks on a door and then pushes his way in the house and forces the occupants to listen to his pitch.

Jahnihah:

"To defend myself against the attempts of others to exert laws & force upon me is consistent with what I have posted all along."

JJ:

You are exerting much more force in violating the free will of the people on the list than anyone is toward you. No one is forcing you to be here, but we as members are currently forced to endure your unjust accusations and bitter imaginary complaints.

You might want to ask yourself these questions:

Why is it that on every list you join you have this same problem?

Are all people your enemies?

Is there even one person who is worthy of love and kindness from you?

Jahnihah:

"Ask my neighbors if I love them."

JJ:

Jesus gave a great example of what a neighbor is in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Let me quote:

25  "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26-27  "He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28  "And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29  "But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30  "And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31  "And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32  "And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33  "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34  "And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35-36  "And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37  "And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."

(Luke 10:25-37)

Because Jesus was teaching love in the context His question could have been worded:  "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, showed love unto him that fell among the thieves?"

Three people here had an opportunity to show love to the wounded man. The first two were a Priest and a Levite, both religious leaders among the Jews at that period. I'm sure these two religious leaders taught their people about love and compassion. As they taught their students in the synagogues perhaps they used this same "L-word" over and over. Perhaps they preached again and again about loving God and your neighbor as was given them in their scriptures.

Then the time came to demonstrate this love in the real world and they closed their eyes to the opportunity. They were probably in a hurry to get home to their flock to preach about love or repentance.

Then came the third guy, the most unlikely of the three to help because he was a Samaritan. The Samaritans were looked upon by the Jews as half-breeds and heretics and not worthy of sharing in the pure religion. Some Jews viewed them as mortal enemies. Nevertheless, this half breed saw this man (who would probably spit on him if he were conscious) and saved his life and spent his own money to insure he was nourished back to health. The love manifested when the injured Jew realized who had saved his life is a thing one cannot manufacture by teaching or writing. It can only happen by doing.

Notice that the Samaritan never mentioned the word love. When love is truly demonstrated, it does not have to be mentioned. All of us may not have soul contact, but all of us know what love is when we feel it and when we feel it we do not need anyone to explain to us what it is.

I'll take as my companions, one like the Samaritan who can show love in action over a thousand who merely proclaim the words.

We may be half breed Samaritans and enemies in your eyes Jahnihah, but even if this is true Jesus tells us that we are still your neighbors and that we still should show and demonstrate love toward one another.

I know I speak for many here when I extend to you the hand of fellowship and the gift of love, but how can you recognize this if you will not receive it and see us as brethren?

What if the Jew who was assisted by the Good Samaritan spit in his face when he awoke because he saw himself as being in the hands of an enemy? Would that destroy the love demonstrated by the Samaritan?

Verily, no. But it would choke out the love struggling to manifest within his own heart.

Who is your neighbor, Jahnihah?

According to Jesus, I am. So are Travis and Glenys, and Rick and Diane and Benjamin and Marylin, and Xavier, and Larry, etc. Instead of biting the hands that are attempting to feed you the pure love of Christ (which does not include anger at your brothers and sisters) cease the biting and snapping and see what there is here for you to receive. Give us the marginal kindness that the average guy in the street would offer to a stranger and you will receive a hundred fold in return.

I witness to you that this principle of loving all people as our neighbors has worked in my life and the rewards I have received are more than I have capacity to receive.

I love you also as my neighbor. As I write here in an attempt to clarify things to you I realize that it may be seen as unloving by you, but such is not the case. I am doing all in my power to open a thread of loving interplay but if you resist this then I must move on to others who can bear fruit.

Even so, the door will always be open to all who wish to open it.

Peace and Love,

JJ