@29 bogie wheel

You have provided a succinct and insightful piece, which I hope that many will save as it touches on another critical issue in exercise of Christian faith: that believers are expected to do, and thus the love is made clear to all. Without that “do”, the commandment is unfulfilled, which has serious implications while considering other statements by Jesus of who his actual followers are and how they may be distinguished (ie, following his commandment).

Your point on the use of “neighbor” is also appropriate. For an example of “who is my neighbor” he did not use some guy in Gaul, but told instead about people meeting another in need face to face. If we spend the time aware of our surroundings, God will bring more than enough neighbors to us to test our love.

A note on governments: as far as I can tell, God’s attitude toward earthly government is simply “obey them so long and in such way as they do not command disobedience to me”. Why? Because in every case, the people get the government they have from God, for His purpose. In some cases this has been to beat the people senseless for rebelling against Him in other ways.

I’m not sure why God blessed America so much after rebelling against the British–maybe to toss “us” another illustrative test. Regardless, what we have now is a state that promises everything, including moral sanctification, if you will only worship it’s laws and mores and submit as instructed with pocketbook and polling lever. It nakedly desires to dethrone God. And we wonder that they can’t keep the illusion going any longer in large or small form? This is a Beast to be run away from as rapidly as possible: it’s end will not be pretty!

–JC