Embracing Differences

Today I watched the movie "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas." I've been wanting to see it for quite some time. It's about a young boy whose father is a soldier in Poland when their family is transferred to Berlin. From his bedroom window, young Bruno can see a "farm" in the distance. He sees children playing outside and wants to go play with them. His father tells his mother that the "farm" is a Nazi concentration camp and Bruno is told he can not go near there. However, he sneaks his way through the woods and fields to go near the "farm" to make friends. He meets a child his age named Shmuel. They quickly become friends through the electric barbed wire fence. Bruno visits his friend every day. He wonders why Shmuel wears "striped pajamas" but doesn't see Shmuel as being any different than he is. They hatch a plan whereby Shmuel will get a pair of "striped pajamas" for Bruno and he will dig a hole under the fence to come in and help Shmuel find his father. The boys are in the hut (men's barracks) when soldiers come in and herd them all to a small building where they are all told to undress. One of the men thinks they're being given a shower. In all actuality, they're all being put into a gas chamber. By the time Bruno's parents realize he is gone and trace where he has run off to, he has been killed along with many Jewish men and boys.

So, this movie got me to thinking of something that has become a huge problem in our society today. Too many people think that people who are a different race, religion, gender, nationality or sexual preference than they are must be wrong or even evil. What I'm about to tell you may make you think less of me. It may even make you decide you can't be friends with me. That's certainly your decision to make. But I hope none of my friends are that shallow. Here's what I have to say:
I don't care what race, religion, gender, nationality or sexual preference you are. You were created by the same God I was. That doesn't mean I have to agree with you. Good heavens! I don't agree with every Caucasian, Christian, straight woman born in America either. You still deserve my respect. I have friends who are Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, white, black, Mexican, straight, gay, and everything in between. Why in the world can't we all be like Bruno? Why can't we want to be friends with someone just because they're human and need someone to care? Why must they be exactly the same as us?

Matthew 22:29 says "And the second is like it" 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" By the way, these words are in red in my Bible. That means Jesus Himself commanded us to love our neighbors.

You say, "Well, the people who live by me are all just like me." Let me clear up who your neighbors really are. Luke 10:30-37 says this: In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled,  came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

So I ask you...will you "Go and do likewise"? Don't concern yourself with their race, religion or sexual preference. Worry about whether you showed the love of Jesus to them!