Jim Coppoc.

Three of the four Christian Gospels recall a moment from Christ’s journey through Judea when he was asked by a wealthy young man what the man must do to be “perfect.” Jesus reminded him of several commandments – you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honor your father and mother – but the man was already following these. Then Jesus told him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money.”

How many Christians do you know who could live up to this standard? How many Christians do you know willing to embrace any of the standards Christ set for his followers? Feed the hungry. Heal the sick. Visit the prisoner. Care for the poor. Love your neighbor.

It is this last one that seems both most central and most challenging. How do we love our neighbors in a world so bent on hate? What does “love your neighbor” even mean in real-world, concrete terms?

To one group of Christians, loving your neighbor means correcting them: making moral decisions (right or wrong) for everyone, and punishing those who don’t live by those standards. The end goal is salvation, and this group sees the pain they put people through as worth that reward. To many other Christians, loving your neighbor means supporting them: offering grace, charity and inclusion even when lifestyles or beliefs diverge. One side risks hubris. The other paralysis.

As a small town, progressive pastor trying to navigate what has become of the Christian movement, sometimes I wonder if we are all still the same religion. How can one church welcome the immigrant, and another reject them? How can one church care for the poor and infirm, and another turn its back? How can one church give all it is able to charity and missions, and another devote itself to massively enriching a few powerful leaders?

In a later moment in Jesus’ ministry, he talks about the final judgment. Jesus prophecies that God will confront each person with how they treated him on earth. According to the Gospel: “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”

Jim Coppoc serves Ripley United Church of Christ at 400 S. Main Street in Traer. After a long career in both academia and human services, he has settled into a comfortable existence as a writer, part-time “Bridge Pastor,” and full-time musician in the memory care unit at the Iowa Veterans Home. You can find Jim online at www.facebook.com/jim.at.ripley.