Love Neighbor

     As you know in the Gospel according to Luke it is Jesus’ inquisitor who sums up the commandments as essentially love God and love neighbor. (The first three commandments are concerned with our love of God and the remaining commandments with our love of neighbor.) Frankly, I think God is more concerned about our love of neighbor than our love of God. As Martin Luther once said, "God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does."Luther Seminary teacher of Hebrew scriptures, The Reverend Dr. Rolf A. Jacobson used to quip that if he ever wrote a book on the ten commandments he would entitle it “Your Neighbor’s Best Life Now.” The point is, the commandments are a “Love Your Neighbor” thing.

     Back at the beginning of Lent I suggested that contemporary society was asking different questions of the faith than were Martin Luther and other Christians of Luther’s era. I suggested that 500 years of using Luther’s Small Catechism was a long time and that Luther likely expected someone to come along and improve upon his version. That said, I’m not certain anyone could improve how Luther handles the ten commandments. Sure, modernize the context and some of the content, but leave be the technique Luther uses to address the commandments.

     The technique is brilliant! Luther takes each prohibition and expands it, and then flips it to a positive action. That is where the commandments become practices which show us how to love our neighbor. Alone the commandments do not function in quite that way. But, listen as if for the first time to Luther’s positive action,    and try hearing it as a practice you can apply to your neighborly relations in the world.

We are to revere and love God, so that…

…we honor, serve, obey, love, and respect our parents and others in authority.

…we help and support our neighbors in all of life’s needs.

…each of us loves and honors their spouse.

…we help our neighbors to improve and protect their property and income.

…we come to our neighbors defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the  best possible light.

…we are of help and service to neighbors in keeping what is theirs.

     I never said the practice would be easy. And no, I don’t think it quite answers the critique which my former parishioner, Ellen was making. For practical ways to “Love” our neighbor, strangers and enemies, we can look to our siblings in Buddhism to help us. Otherwise, learn by watching the Christ, Jesus, and seek to model your love and behavior after him.

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Luther's Small Catechism, Augsburg Fortress Press, Minneapolis, Copyright © 2001.

Music Video -  The Porter's Gate - The Greatest Commandment (feat. Paul Zach) (Official Live Video) Album: Neighbor Songs

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