I’ve written several times about one of the highlights of growing up in Little Falls, attending the First Baptist Church and having the unmitigated privilege of being party to the magnificent sermons of the Rev. Fred Thorne. For one thing, none of us young’uns fell asleep during his presentations — his booming voice could probably be heard in Paines Hollow. And secondly, he spoke in a manner understandable to everyone from 7 to 97. His messages really resonated because they reminded us of how we should conduct our lives on a daily basis as Jesus instructed. He backed up his preaching with specific references to the Bible, especially those espousing the significance of the Ten Commandments.

Primary among the latter, of course, was the First, Love Thy God. But to me, the Second was almost as important. Love Thy Neighbor. As written in the Gospel of St. Mark (12:31-33), there is no stipulation regarding who that person might be, including someone of a different race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity from your own. We are neighbors all! Christ realized that doing so would not always be easy, often requiring much effort, patience and understanding.

As for what being a good neighbor entails, all we need do is read Luke (10:25-37) and learn about one of the most popular parables in the Bible. As the story goes a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead by the side of a road. After remaining unaided by two passersby, a third, the Good Samaritan, stopped to help. The parable’s message — we’re accountable with one another no matter who we are regardless of color, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Rev. Thorne was especially enamored by the aforementioned parable and often encouraged us to become Good Samaritans — not just as kids but throughout our lives. Doing random acts of kindness towards others in the form of charity, generosity or simply helping out not only was the Christian thing to do, it was the right thing to do. I can still recall how he finished one of his Good Samaritan sermons-that even though the Samaritan didn’t know the man, he knew that he needed help and like him, we should help and love each other-our neighbors.

Unfortunately, that simple message seems to have been forgotten by legions of “Christians” in today’s society and, more unfortunately, many state legislatures. Of course, this isn’t the first time such blasphemy has occurred. Our past is replete with examples, far too many to mention here. One of the most egregious were the Wars of the Reformation where tens of thousands of Protestants and Catholics killed each other over a difference of opinion. Another example, closer to home, involved white Southerners lynching Black Americans on a given Saturday and, the next morning in church, singing praises to their merciful God.

And then there’s today. According to The New York Times, many Republican-controlled states have forbidden cities from banning discrimination against L.G.B.T.Q. employees in the workplace, and there are hundreds of bills now pending that would override local authorities in order to ban books on L.B.G.T.Q. issues. Also, many states are also telling local school boards to change their curriculums to limit classroom discussion of slavery, racial prejudice, the Cherokee Trail of Tears and the civil rights movement. Other actions undermine fundamental principles of equality as well as access to the ballot and fair representation and are certainly not in keeping with that second greatest Commandment nor the Constitution.

Rev. Thorne ended a few of his sermons by reminding us that if we knew and lived “Love Thy Neighbor,” as stated by Mark (12:28-34), we were “not far from the kingdom of God.” Based on their actions against the L.B.G.T.Q. community and racial-religious minorities, too many self-proclaimed Christians, including their spokespersons and political representatives, have a long, long way to go.

Ray Lenarcic is a 1965 State University of New York at Fredonia graduate and resident of Herkimer.