Love is love?
Unlike other Torah passages, the Ten Commandments does not express how one should feel about the Decalogue’s shalls or shall nots. The Prophet Amos places emotions in the balance concerning Humanity’s dealings. Should Amos’ words apply to the Ten Commandments? Are there consequences for failing to assert emotional interest in the dealings of others?
Commandments involving emotions are not foreign to the Torah. In fact, one of the Torah’s most famous passages in Deuteronomy is a mandate with respect to love. Deuteronomy 6:5, provides that one “shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. “
The Prophet Amos takes on social ills. How should people feel about robbery, lying, adultery and murder? How should people feel about those who honor their parents? Amos’ words instruct the populace how they should feel about other’s action. He proclaims: “seek good and not evil, so that you may live, and the Lord, God of Legions, will indeed be with you as you said. Despise evil and love good, and establish justice by the gate.” Amos 5:14-15
In modernity, we are witnesses to the consequences of failing to abide by this edict. Spurred on by politicians and advocates, in the United States, laws and policies have been enacted to embrace and encourage criminal lifestyles. Further, law enforcement has been tempered to serve criminal interests as well. Additionally, Social Media companies have furthered the problem by hosting videos of these horrible acts on their platforms. Social Media clout has incentivized individuals to engage in the worst behavior imaginable. In essence, contrary to Amos’s message, we live in times in which there is much love towards society’s evils.
So, is love, love? Or, does Amos words ring true that people should abhor evil? Should Amos’ vision of a fair justice system apply today?
I recall a woman being interviewed at a department store after an outrageous shoplifting incident. She bluntly said that she could no longer take her children into stores as she did not want them to witness this bad behavior. Arguably, she viewed indifference towards evil negatively as well. The store let the crime occur, the store customers did not get involved, and it was likely that the police might discourage the making of a police report. The consequence of this indifference is the massive amount of retail stores closing due to theft.
Thus, what is to be made of Amos’ words? Are there real consequences to the false notion that the world revolves around the premise that “love is love”?
Be well!!
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