For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (‭‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬‬:‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

God calls me to love my neighbor—but who is that? Is that the atheist down the street, the Buddhist next door, the LGBTQ+ member who just moved in the neighborhood?

Yes, it is.

When He calls us to love our neighbor, He means to love everyone, including the liberal who can’t stand to hear you talk, the agnostic who simply wants to argue, the “non-binary” individual who thinks disagreement equals hatred. We are to love all of them.

No matter how much we disagree, no matter how different our worldviews are, no matter how much they may hate us, we must love them. Love them as a fellow image bearer of God. Love them as one who deserves the same dignity and respect you do. Love them as Christ loves them.

This love, though, doesn’t mean we approve. It doesn’t mean we turn the other way. It doesn’t mean we compromise our beliefs to get along. We must love them enough to share the gospel with them, to point them to Jesus, to call them to repentance and faith.

Friend, love others. Show compassion, regardless of who it is.