`Christianity vs. the World
or
WHO is MY Neighbor?

by John Cope

I have entitled this study "Christianity vs. the World", becauseI want to explore the concept of religion in God's Word.

Has religion introduced prejudice into society?

When Christ gave us "a new commandment", that being to love our neighbor as ourself, does that not beg the question, who is our neighbor? Is our neighbor a fellow believer, or is our neighbor, our fellow man? Is our neighbor a Christian, or is he an atheist? Is he a satanist? Is he a Jew, Catholic, Buddhist, Hindu? Muslim?

Before we even attempt to answer this question, might we do well to get a fix on the God we believe in and profess to worship (for those of us who do have a God)? Or, as many have put forth, is our God imaginary? Do we really know in Whom we believe? Does our God, The God of heaven and earth, have boundaries? Is it our place to refer to any who do not believe in our God as "heathen"? Are not they, too, our "neighbor"?

Is our God a finite God, or is He infinite? Is He not as infinte as time and space itself? Did He not create every man of every color, race, tongue and creed? Is there a living human being in earth today who is more highly favored than another in the eye or our Lord?

Is it our mission in life today to take Christianity to the world, or is it our duty to share our awareness that all men are, indeed, created equal? If it is the latter, what would that awarness be? Might it be all about Love? What is God? God is Love. How else are we expected to share anything with any man if we lack love? What does it mean, really, to have the love of Jesus? What would Jesus do? How did He live? Did He force His God on anyone or, did He show us the Father in Him?

These may all be questions we sincerely need to answer for ourselves before any of us can be so assured that we have all Truth in our heart. Does Christ state that Christianity is the way, or does He make it clear that He is the Way?

The apostles of Christ had a personal relationship with Him and it was to them the great Gospel commission was given. He entrusted It to them because they knew Him personally. Do we know Jesus? Have we opened our minds to receive that Still, Small Voice or, are we trapped in the confines of religion? Is our relationship with Him open and personal or, is it a ritual? Is our Comforter Jesus, or is our comforter the voice of another?...jc