The Most Important Commandment

This has been an interesting week, no? So many angry, as well as gloating, folks regarding the election. I have seen friends blog and get not-so-nice comments in return, and have heard stories of arguments between people in relationship.

Earlier this week, however, I was hanging out with two women from my church. One was caucasian, the other African-American. The Caucasian was upset that so many people were wearing "Change Can Happen" shirts or talking about how America now has hope. I finally said, "I think that hope is okay. There's nothing wrong with having hope. Help me understand what you're thinking." She responded defensively with, "It is NOT okay if that hope is being put into one person instead of Jesus Christ." I said that I don't see that as the hope, but in the hope for a different future...one that we as Caucasians can't fathom.

Last night I was at a fundraiser for The Firehouse and heard an incredible story that, I feel embodies the hope. A Pastor talked about young man, let's call him Tom. Tom works a corner in Pastor's neighborhood and does his thing. Every day for ten years, Pastor has stopped by to see Tom and invite him to breakfast or lunch. Because of Tom's responsibilities on the corner, he couldn't really leave it without getting in trouble. On Nov. 5, Pastor stopped by to see Tom, and Tom pulled his ballot receipt out of his pocket and said, "Pastor, yesterday I voted...I voted," and was overcome with emotion. He then asked if Pastor could take him to lunch.

At lunch that day, Tom told Pastor how he sees an opportunity for a better future. Seeing an African-American man who came from nothing get elected gives Tom hope that systems can change and give the same opportunities to his people that the rest of us get. He has hope for grace and forgiveness and the opportunity to work. This week he has been at the tech center at Pastor's church, getting an email address and trying to find ways to get himself out of his lifestyle.

Tom is sure to face obstacles, and stumble on his way to getting off the streets. It will be hard for him to find a job in this market and economy, and its sure to pay a lot less than he's currently making. But that hope that he has is what is life-changing and opens the door for the Holy Spirit. And that is never a bad thing.

I know some will read this and claim that Tom has the same opportunities the rest of us do. As someone who has lived in the country, in the suburbs and the city, I can say that you don't know what you don't know until you've lived for a significant amount of time in an urban center. Things are not the same. The graduation rate in cities is only 50%. Due to gangs and drugs, its difficult to get good teachers, so those that do graduate are given a sub-par education. My boss's daughter has to share a Spanish textbook with two other classmates. Often times, the valedictorians from inner city schools will flunk out at a college.

You are dependent on public transportation to get you around. If a student has to cross gang lines to get to school, they may opt to skip a few days a week to avoid the violence. There was a shooting yesterday where a young man told his grandpa that he didn't want to go to school because he thought he might get killed. His body was found next to another one around 4 pm, Many inner cities have very corrupt police systems, where the police are just as dangerous (in some cases, moreso) than the gangsters. It's a very different environment than even the poorest rural Caucasians can imagine, with very few opportunities to get out.

Sometimes we have to force ourselves to think outside our context. It's necessary for our country to move forward.

I know many may read this and say that they won't support anyone that supports abortion or homosexuality, because those ideals are antithetical to Jesus' teachings. I would just ask people to remember what Jesus response was when asked what is the most important commandment: to love no other Gods before me, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

Legalism is when we focus too much on specific acts, and not on relationships and people. It was the downfall of the Pharisees back in the day. Remember how they spent hours questioning Jesus, focusing on legalistic things?

Whether you support Blue or Red, let's embrace something that puts the hope of Jesus Christ within reach for people.