Loving those not like you

By Robert Hurtgen

Loving people who are like you is easy. In the Bible, Jesus says it does you no good only to love those who love you. To only do good to those you do good to you. Only give to others what is guaranteed to be returned. Loving others, particularly those who are not like you, is risky. The Bible prescribes ways that you can love those who are not like you?

You love people who are not like you by seeing them as God sees them. When you look at people who are not like you, it is easy to generalize and categorize them. "That's just how tall people are." "All first-born children are bossy." "Drivers of red cars are arrogant." They, whoever they are, cease being human. They are a category. They have been generalized, categorized and dismissed. But, when we see them as God sees them he sees them as his creation, unique, and, if in Christ, his own we can love them more easily.

You love people who are not like you by seeing yourself as God sees you. You are a person who has received much grace. You are a person who makes a thousand mistakes before breakfast. You are not perfect. Seeing your imperfection can be a catalyst act graciously. To care for the calloused. You can more easily love those who are not like you when you realize how much grace you have already been given. Those who have received much grace, give grace.

You love people who are not like you by seeing both of you as God sees you. Seeing you as men and women of every race, tongue and nation whom He will gather to himself. In Acts 10 God reveals to Peter, who had a very exclusive view of who could follow Jesus, that all men, in all places can be favored by forgiven by God and therefore stripped of their fear of death.

God calls us to love people as he sees them. Precious. Unique. Created in his image. When we stop seeing others as God sees them, we will devalue, degrade, and dismiss them. When we practice loving others, particularly those who are not like us, much good is created for them and us.