The Importance of Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself

[deacon blues]

I preached a youth camp for an independent pastor in Florida several years ago while I was a youth pastor in Ohio. Members of our church had relatives attending his church and they recommended me to him for a potential camp evangelist for his youth camp. We both met at a Bob Evans restaurant in my home town while he was in the area on business. We hit it off and became good friends immediately. We talked about youth ministry and the upcoming camp and his ideas for a good one and then he asked me would I come and preach for him. I accepted the offer and we set the dates.

Several months later my wife and son and I were on our way to Florida for this youth camp. We scheduled a much-needed vacation the week after and we were looking forward to a great time. This would be the first of two independent camps I would preach in addition to four UPC youth camps. We had a terrific time, the camp facilities were great and we saw 16 kids out of 85 attending receive the HG. The camp had a wonderful in-ground pool that we baptized one young lady in.

Halfway through the camp it caught my attention that although the temperatures were very high, I always saw my independent brother in long sleeves. I had worn polo shirts and t-shirts during the daytime sessions. I asked this brother, "Hey, I notice you always wear long sleeves, is that a conviction of yours?" He said, "Yes". I apologized profusely and told him I would wear long sleeves the rest of the week and he responded, "There's no need for you to apologize or wear long sleeves. This is me. This is waht I am comfortable with. This was the way I was raised. You just be yourself."

I respected the man even more and went ahead and wore long sleeves the rest of the week. They asked me back for a second year and we had another great time in the Lord.

This is the type of relationship we should have with one another. Never once did he ask me about standards nor did he require conformity for me to minister to his young people. It never came up in conversation. The focus was young people, the Holy Ghost, worship, music, friendship, fellowship, and light-hearted laughter and good times.

I cringe at the attitudes that I see and hear coming from both sides of the debate. Each side feels like they have to prove the other is wrong. If a conservative espouses some of their convictions and strongly held beliefs, there are liberal attack dogs waiting to pounce and point out how wrong they are. The same happens the other way. Brethren these things ought not to be so.

I love reading Sis. Alvear's posts. They are full of love and respect for all who are on here. She draws my attention like a magnet b/c of the love that exudes from her posts. I feel the same coming from others like Man of Word and Renda and Sherri.

Standards are important. We all must have them and live by them. The ULTIMATE standard is JESUS CHRIST. He said the greatest biblical standard is to love the Lord with your entire being. He said the second most important standard was to love your neighbor as yourself.

If you disagree with someone's convictions, disagree, but don't get personal. If someone gets personal, don't respond in kind, b/c in so doing they undermine their positions and you don't have to tear them down for it, they self-destruct. Heap coals of fire on the head of those you are in conflict with by rendering good for evil and watch how God takes care of it.

We all need a good dose of Christian love for ALL: conservatives, moderates, liberals, saints, preachers, sinners, reprobates.

By this men will know that we are His disciples.....................................