Radical Love

Our love of neighbour isn’t always overt. Sometimes it is acceptance of just how people

are.

Luke 6:27-36

He took the gospel, wrapped in love, to the people.

On my first visit to Cambodia I met a pastor of a church in a small village. At first he wasn’t welcome in the village. Villagers stole the windows of his house and abused him. He didn’t retaliate. He loved them. He started programs for the youth and offered help with relationships. At the time I visited there were fifty youth in the youth group and the church had it’s own building. He took the gospel, wrapped in love, to the people. A side note, his wife runs a roadside food stall where she sells barbequed crickets and frogs. They tasted alright too.

Over the last few weeks Stephen has been talking about God’s love. He has shared a couple of stories of people showing love, mercy and forgiveness. There are many such stories. One of America’s many mass shootings was in a Texas church. The surviving members of the congregation expressed forgiveness to the perpetrator.

At my retirement Stephen mentioned my involvement at the coffee shop across the road. Early on I noticed the same group of blokes every morning. I started to nod as I went to order. Then I said hello and introduced myself. Then I was invited to sit with them. I expected that these typical Aussie blokes would act like Aussie blokes. I don’t expect people who aren’t Christians to act like Christians. I didn’t react to swearing or off jokes. They all knew what I did across the road at church. I loved them. Our love of neighbour isn’t always overt. Sometimes it is acceptance of just how people are.

Andy