Neighbors in the Valley

I wasn't always a believer. I wasn't always thirsty for the Word and hungry for His wisdom. For many years I was an atheist in pursuit of validation. I sought earthly wisdom, and egotistically preached against the faith of others. I thought my own understanding to be greater, and felt sure that I was saving people from the ignorant oppression of religion. I declared the church a fraud, and denied God and His will. I was proudly lost with no desire to be found, and I am forever ashamed of the result. While many, I'm sure, were more annoyed than affected by my rantings and ramblings, I know of several, and I'm sure more, who fully stumbled at the blasting of my self-righteous trumpet.   One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.      Proverbs 12:26 (ESV)   Since turning away from that life, I have done more than my share of soul searching, begging forgiveness for my misdeeds and...

Everyone who has read the gospels has read these verses. Few would disagree with the basic concept, and all would likely claim to hold to the command itself; but are we really? To even call oneself Christian would require adhering to the first: love the Lord your God with all your heart. But loving our neighbors  can be a struggle, right? I would argue that we cannot do one without the other. These two cannot be separated, no matter your theology, creed, or doctrine. Who is the Lord your God? He is the Creator of all things which have been created, with particular pride, the creator of man. Who is your neighbor? Well, look to the story of the Samaritan for Jesus's full answer, but simply defined: anyone you interact with. But more than fellow man, your neighbor is the image bearer of God Almighty. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;  male and female he created them. " Genesis 1:27 ESV What does that really say? We ar...