If we loved...

If we loved AS JESUS LOVED... there would be no poor, as the community lived it in the 1st Century Church (Acts 4:32-35)
If we loved NEIGHBOR AS SELF... we would have no enemies... we would destroy them by making them our brothers and sisters...
we would feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned and welcome the stranger...
there would be no desire to deport anyone, as they would all be our neighbors
there would be no lay offs, as companies and stockholders would be glad to take less profit rather than hurt their employees and their families - as we would not want to see our selves go without, so we would not want it for anyone else
there would be no default threat, as ALL would pay their fair share of taxes as thankful, loving American citizens and corporations  - as we want stability for our selves, we would want it for ALL
there would be little illiteracy, as ALL schools would have the same resources - as we demand it for our selves, we would demand it for our neighbors (even enemies and strangers)
we would ALL be middle class... IN THE WORLD... what a wonderful thought!
some would not go without healthcare or medication because they could not pay - because we would demand coverage for them just as we would for our selves, or cover for them out of love
we would not fight wars, but use EVERY means necessary to make justice and keep peace, for we would not want to see their innocent citizens be killed on their streets, anymore than we would want to see that happen to us on ours...
we would accept everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, background, etc., etc., etc.... because JESUS welcomed and engaged people of ALL distinctions, so we would love AS HE LOVED... as Phillip baptized an Ethiopian Eunuch, excluded by the law for being sexually, ethnically, religiously different, and including him... so we would accept all...
we would value Kingdom values over earthly values, put people over profits, see power as something over our selves and not over others, but there to help others... pray for our enemies, give them what they need... give our selves more freely and learn how to LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY, as JESUS LOVED...
oh yes... and we would have PEACE and JOY like we do not have in the world now...
PEACE that starts within and JOY at living it with each other in the world around us...
we would BE SATISFIED... with thankful hearts, counting what we ALREADY HAVE as tremendous, especially God's Grace and Love...
Sounds good, eh?
So why don't we love like that?
Pastor Jamie