What does “love your neighbor” look like when a perfect storm hits? Who is our neighbor?
What’s the perfect storm?
1. A global pandemic that consumes the news, conversation, life itself. Isolation, fear, uncertainty, speculation, denial, a universal desire to get back to normal, but there is no end or solution in sight.
2. Economic impact of the pandemic. Loss of jobs, savings, businesses, hope for the future. Massive unemployment and job market drying up.
3. Inability of the government to recognize and respond in any helpful way. Political division and ineptitude frustrates all parties.
4. People’s most basic needs are threatened. Food and housing insecurity. There is a prediction of an avalanche of evictions (24-30 million) impacting renters and landlords alike.
5. Racial unrest caused by police violence, massive disparities in education, housing, opportunity, incarceration, disproportionate impact of covid 19.
6. Disparity of resources in the community. Think about the budgets and staffing levels of white churches compared to their African American and Latino counterparts.
7. School districts opting to go “hybrid or virtual” until November causing more stress on students, teachers, administrators and parents.
All or most of this is happening all at once and impacting people of color the most. Most of us are either ignorant or unaware of these realities. One news source described the situation as “standing at the edge of a cliff and no one is doing anything about it”
“It’s complicated,” we say. Yes, it is. It’s overwhelming, intimidating and paralyzing all at once..
So what’s the answer? How should Christians love our neighbors who are most impacted by the perfect storm?
When Jesus was asked the same question by an expert of the law, (Luke 10:27ff) He told the story of the Good Samaritan. A most unlikely traveller dropped everything to help a victim of a severe beating and robbery. He bound his wounds and took him to an inn, paid for his room and board until he got well because he had mercy on him. Jesus then answered our question, “Go and do likewise.”
Isn’t it time for Christians to step up with extraordinary acts of mercy, generosity and compassion?