“You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

This commandment is so appropriate for the time we are in right now with all the protests against racism and the deep desire for something better. It seems so obvious, Jesus calls us to love God, love our neighbours, love our enemies, but when we look at our nation, when we are honest with who we are as Canadians, racism and hatred is still such a part of our society and at some point we need to be reminded that this is not the way it’s supposed to be. For followers of Jesus it begins in our relationships with our fellow believers, as Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35. When the world sees how we love each other in our differences, when we put the needs of others first, when we live lives that focus on building others up and helping them to flourish, the world takes notice and our testimony of who Jesus becomes more powerful and change can begin to happen. Love instead of hate is at the heart of this command, so let’s love!

Q. What is God’s will for you in the sixth commandment?

A. I am not to belittle, hate, insult, or kill my neighbor—not by my thoughts, my words, my look or gesture, and certainly not by actual deeds—and I am not to be party to this in others; rather, I am to put away all desire for revenge. I am not to harm or recklessly endanger myself either. Prevention of murder is also why government is armed with the sword.