“YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Mark 12:31
Recently a television documentary and a movie on the same subject drew me to research the TV personality, Fred Rogers, a staple of children’s programming on PBS for many years. This man, an ordained Presbyterian minister—a genuinely kind and gentle man—conveyed Christian love and concern to all the children he befriended. He had the gift of making each child, through the TV screen or in person, feel like he was speaking directly to them, loving and accepting them.
When public television, back in 1968, agreed to the then radical idea of a no thrills, low key show that would engage and teach children they are special just the way they are and worthy of love, it was a risky experiment with little hope of capturing many viewers. After a period of airing the show, the broadcasters scheduled a day when children and their parents could come and meet Mr Rogers in person. Rain didn’t keep the masses away. The PBS executives were shocked to see a line of children and adults extending many city blocks, patiently waiting for the chance to shake the hand of the man who had become their beloved friend.
Mr. Rogers taught children how to develop good character traits by example. He had been a sickly child, requiring him to spend much time alone in his room. As a remedy to boredom, he unleashed a vivid imagination, eventually becoming a creative story teller, puppeteer and talented musician. Upon returning to school he was bullied with taunts of being “chubby.” His experiences developed in him an empathy for children (and adults) who were suffering physically, emotionally or spiritually. Gifts born out of pain and loneliness became part of God’s plan to touch the lives of those facing the serious issues of life … illness … divorce … hatred … anger … discrimination … tragedy … loss.
“He comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:4
I was shocked when footage toward the end of the documentary showed people picketing at Mr Rogers’ funeral, waving signs that said he should burn in Hell for deceiving children to believe they were worthy of love and respect, just the way they were. The sign carriers worried their children would be content with their natural abilities and lack the ambition necessary to compete in the real world. I wept at the injustice—that a kind-hearted, loving and Godly man could be so despised, his character so slandered.
At church recently, listening to our pastor’s sermon, I felt convicted. Even though Mr Rogers was a godly man, he was a sinner—like all of us. Out of love for us, Jesus chose to suffer the penalty of our sins. I felt ashamed at how long it had been since I wept for the horrible injustice Jesus received. As cruel as the treatment Mr Rogers and his family experienced, the crowd didn’t spit on his face, torture him and then watch him die in agony in order to save us from paying the penalty of our sins.
I’m glad I saw both the documentary and the film (with a brilliant portrayal of Mr Rogers by actor Tom Hanks). Both films remind us what happens when society turns its back on God, and Christians are made to feel overwhelmed and intimidated into silence. Everyday we witness those who call evil good, and good evil, but what do we do about it?
To quote Edmund Burke (a British statesman who supported the ideals of our American Revolution), “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Holy God … Heavenly Father,
I pray for Your Spirit to empower all Christians to be bold and brave enough to declare the truth of Your Word to a lost world before it is too late. Jesus is our only hope to avoid sinking further into an endless spiral of depravity. We are all in desperate need of the Love, Grace, and Mercy that can only come through Jesus, our Lord and Savior. He stands waiting, not on a rainy street to shake our hands, but at the door of our hearts promising to come in if we will only receive him. Amen.
by Julie Hill
One of the scribes came and asked Jesus, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH’ The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31