Ever since I went to Ecuador these two questions have bothered me: First of all, why is it that people who have less, love more? Also, why is the person who has more (or different) experiences more accepting of the differences in others? These questions bothered me in Ecuador because, compared to the people there, I felt embittered and hard, impersonal and cold. The Ecuadorians accepted me with open arms and I still walked through the door with a lock on my heart, unwilling to let people in. In fact, it took probably until the third out of the four months there for me to finally open up to my roommate. These questions bother me now that I’ve returned to the United States because I can see people acting exactly as I did before. Cold, impersonal, un-accepting. I just want to ask…where’s the love?
In case you didn’t know, Ecuador is a Third World country. So…they’re not doing so great. And Presidente Correa? I don’t care for him so much. However, even in the poorest neighborhood we were in, we were warmly welcomed and accepted. I would also like to point out that everywhere we went we attended a Nazarene church, and even in a congregation of 50 I saw more passion and fire there than I have ever seen in a church in the United States. What excuse do we have for that?
I know people have been asking this question for ages, but I just can’t figure out why the people there who have so much less, love so much more. What is it about our “stuff” that makes us love less? Do we really care more about things than people? We would choose the convenience and impersonality of talking on the phone over the closeness and intimacy of a face-to-face conversation. Yes, no wonder we’re so cold. As a person who prides herself on promptness I can say that the tendency of the Hispanic culture to arrive late is not my favorite part of the culture. But I think we have something to learn about their carefree attitude about time. When people come, you start, and you stay until you are done. In church, you start when you have a good crowd and you don’t leave until the Lord is done talking. And then you still stay around to fellowship with those around you. I so badly want to see a church like that in the U.S. I want to see a church that calls on the Lord, no, a church that cries out to the Lord for His presence and His Word. I want to see a church that disregards the boundaries that time creates, boundaries that tell the Lord that if He wants to speak He better do it in an hour. I want to see a church that does not create boundaries for the Lord, and I want to see a church that opens its arms to the community and welcomes everyone (no matter how they are dressed or what their background may be) and says, “We, the church, are so happy you’re here and we love you just the way you are.”
This brings me to my next question. Why is a person with more experience more accepting of differences? I was thinking about this because I’ve wanted to help create the change our church needs. However, if you grew up in a church like mine, you know that change is not easy. In fact, depending on who you’re dealing with, change can be downright impossible. In my mind I keep thinking, ‘If they only knew what it could be like! If they had only seen what I saw!’ But they didn’t see what I saw, and sometimes I cry knowing that they will never have an experience like what I had. It amazes me to see people fighting to hold on to the unimportant things that may turn someone away from the church, with an attitude that will definitely turn people away from the church.
The reason for this question goes further than wanting to see the fire kindled in the church. I’ve also been bothered lately by the fact that Christians here in the United States can be so intolerant and closed-minded. I know that there are things to be intolerant on for sure, but when it comes to humans and human rights again I ask, where’s the love? It is because of my experiences in a foreign country, being a Spanish major, working with Hispanic ministries, and dating an immigrant that my heart has been opened to the fact that - even though they may make bad choices and break the law - illegal Hispanics (and anyone of different race and culture) are people and as such deserve to be treated humanely and with decency. There are consequences for breaking the law, yes. But is one of those consequences making them fear for their life? Is one of those consequences stripping them of dignity, respect, and the most basic rights? I sure hope not.
Jesus said to love your enemies, and what does love require? Patience, kindness, humility, honesty. Paul said it in 1 Corinthians 13, you should know it by now! Unfortunately most people only find 1 Corinthians 13 important at weddings and when talking about romantic love. I’m sorry but…where did Paul specify that he was talking about only romantic love when he wrote that? Unless you have a different translation, he doesn’t say that. He is talking about all love. How should our love be for our neighbor? Patient, kind, humble, honest. How should our love be for a stranger? Patient, kind, humble, honest. How should our love be for our enemy? Patient, kind, humble, honest. How should our love be for even the illegal who breaks the law? Patient, kind, humble, honest. I mean, I’m going off what the Bible says here but hey, I could be wrong.
My experiences have helped me to see differences, accept them, and to open my heart to loving with the love that Christ demands of us. I think we in the United States have a lot to learn about having an open heart. We have a lot to learn about loving despite differences, despite history, despite the fact that we may not even know the person. We have a lot to learn about love, period.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have no love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have no love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love never fails.”
-1 Corinthians 13:1-8.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
-Matthew 5:43-44
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?“ “The most important one,“ answered Jesus, “is this: ‘. . . Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
-Mark 12:28-31
