Article June 3, 1985 Issue

Lessons from a pronoun

RALPH BYRON COPPER

The real breadth of our Christian love—our genuine compassion, affection, and forgiveness—can be measured more by the number of people we don't love than by the number we do.

To evict even one person from our heart runs counter to the example set by the supreme Christian, Christ Jesus. His love omitted no one—not Pilate; not Judas; not even his crucifiers. His was an infinite love springing from an infinite God.

Christly compassion puts no limits whatever on who is to be loved, befriended, forgiven. The New Testament speaks equally of loving one's brother, neighbor, and enemy. So, fundamentally, it doesn't make a whit of difference who that "who" is: whether it be your spouse or your in-law, your fellow church member, your boss, or a politician in Moscow or Washington; such a one is to be thought of and treated in a Christian spirit. Whatever you call him, the spiritual lesson to be learned remains the same: Who is this "neighbor" we're to love?

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