Who is my neighbor? Who is my enemy?

Boom! The roof blew off, and a heated discussion followed. The question became: How can any of us who study the Scriptures and follow the one who proclaims that God created and loves all persons equally, and shows no partiality, identify some people as neighbors, friends, brothers and sisters while judging others as alien, too different, enemies?

Greek and Hebrew texts define enemy as someone who has been a friend in the past but is now alienated, or someone with whom one is actively at war. The Oxford Dictionary defines enemy as someone who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something. According to a number of today’s politicians, cable TV hosts, social media influencers, our own family members, the term enemy also covers those whose faith, skin color, political party, gender, language, economic or social status, level of education, or manner of dress differs from our own. Within a single religious faith group, sides or camps of believers “un-friend” each other. Persons of different political parties shun opportunities for conversation, nonjudgmental listening and seeking common ground.

Benjamin Franklin, in 1755, objected to the influx of Germans to this country, complaining, “Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a colony of aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our anglifying them, and will never adopt our language or customs, any more than they can acquire our complexion?”

Back in the 1950s, my father employed slurs to describe Catholics, Jews, Japanese, Italians, gay persons, people of color, politicians he didn’t like, anyone who differed from him. My mother, at the other end of the dining table, would say, “Now Chace, not in front of the children.” It never slowed him down.

Today, some politicians — and strangely, some religious leaders — call for us to be suspect of “aliens” coming into America, the very nation in which we ourselves were once aliens.

Who among us reading this column are followers of Jesus, calling him Christ, the Son of God, the one who teaches us that God has no favorites, who calls us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome strangers, support widows and orphans, share our resources with all so all might live in dignity? In answer to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan in which the perceived enemy was actually the true neighbor. He also told the story of a man who piled up wealth for himself without regard for the welfare of others. What might he say about those of us who follow a philosophy of my country first, mine first, me first? Jesus ate supper with sinners and tax collectors and counted among his disciples both Matthew the tax collector, and Simon the Zealot, who might have been in favor of overthrowing the government. What might he say to us when we shun persons of a different political party?

So much division. How to bridge the gap and begin to heal? Dolly Parton’s new song, “World on Fire,” premiered at the 2023 Academy of Country Music awards, calls us to action: “How do we heal this great divide? Do we care enough to try? … Time to break the spell in heaven’s name. … Show some love … Let’s rise above … Let’s make a stand … Let’s lend a hand … Let’s heal the hurt … Let kindness work … Let’s be a friend … Let hatred end.”

Bob Dylan, in his classic song “Blowin’ in the Wind,” asked, “When will it ever end?” The task is huge. We are tempted to say, “Impossible.” Yet, Scripture assures us that we have help, for in God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Recently, following several tragic shootings, I listened to officials call again for “thoughts and prayers,” and cried out, “That’s not enough.”

But it sure may be a good place for us to start. May we ask God’s help to examine our lives, our hearts, our relationships, our attitudes, our motivations and actions, and to discern a path forward.

Tucson faith leaders, we would like to include your original sermon or scriptures of encouragement. Sermons must be written by the person submitting them, not borrowed from another source or writer. If you are a faith leader from any religion or denomination, please contact Sara Brown at sbbrown@tucson.com.