Who Really is My Neighbor?

Vice President, JD Vance, on January 29th, said the following in an interview with Fox News:

“Theres this old school — and I think it’s a very Christian concept, by the way — that you love your family and then you love your neighbor and then you love your community and then you love your fellow citizens and your own country, and then after that you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world.

“A lot of the far left has completely inverted that. They seem to hate the citizens of their own country and care more about people outside their own borders. That is no way to run a society.  And I think the profound difference that Donald Trump brings to the leadership of this country is the simple concept of America First. It doesn’t mean you hate anybody else, it means that you have leadership. And President Trump has been very clear about this — that puts the interests of American citizens first. In the same way that the British prime minister should care about Brits and the French should care about the French, we have an American president who cares primarily about Americans, and that’s a very welcome change.”

Although I strongly disagree with the Vice President regarding this “Christian concept” of prioritizing our responsibility, I am grateful for his thoughts as it is a starting point that we, as Americans, and as global citizens, must wrestle with before we can proceed.

You probably know by now that I work at the United Nations, and I believe in the responsibility of all citizens and leaders to work together. I also am a follower of Jesus Christ, who throughout his ministry, healed the stranger and made them his neighbor. He went as far as sacrificing his life for those of his time, and beyond.

Imagine if he was focused just on his family, or his community. Imagine if he waited to take care of his family first before he cared for those at the margins. This is not what God came to do.

If your response to this is, well, Jesus was divine. My response is that Jesus taught us a way to live by his example. Before his death, he prays to his Father, “may they all be one.”

We as God’s creation are called, like Jesus, to shine our divine light.

Perhaps those of us who follow the way of Jesus and see our priorities as the Vice President does, we must ask, “Do we prioritize our American identity over our Christian one?”

What does “America First” really mean…

When I hear “America First,” I understand the sentiment. Just look around at the injustices here in our own nation, and I feel the same desire to heal this nation’s wounds- including, but not limited to, caring for our Veterans, those experiencing housing and food insecurity, gun violence, those with mental and physical illnesses, racism and injustices because of the color of one’s skin, gender and sexual identity, or religious beliefs, those with addictions, and those who lose their lands, lives, and homes due to the impact of a warming planet. It is all of our responsibility to help heal these wounds- for ourselves, our neighbors, and our fellow American citizens.

I look at our present and past leadership, from the President down to local governments, and I wonder if this is their main motive, too.

As one example, just look at the health care of our US Senators and ask why they and their families have the best plan offered, while many Americans lack access, or are thrown into debt to receive quality care for even basic check-ups. My dad, used to provide electrical services to my doctor so I could get asthma treatments because as a local business owner, there was no health insurance option that was affordable.

Judging by these opening weeks of this present administration, if it was truly “America First,” we wouldn’t see the executive orders ending measures addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

On a country built on racism, specifically slavery, and continues with implicit bias in various forms, how do we ignore these Americans? And what about our LGBTQ community and their rights? Are they not Americans, too? Do they not fill our homes and share our communities?

Is it really “America First”? Or is it favoring a specific group of Americans?

When we consider our national spending, I agree with most, if not all, that there should be more transparency and accountability.

Take a look at our defense budget and then explain how our schools can suffer as they do in lower socio-economic areas. Look at our hospitals, and how we fail to care for our seniors. Even a small percentage of re-allocation would change lives.

If you don’t want to touch the defense budget, look at other areas such as the tax breaks for the 1% and the tremendous interest we pay on national debt (it was $882 billion in 2024).

Who is Our Responsibility?

VP Vance incorrectly prioritizes how we are to love what is closest to us first. He criticizes how “liberals” prioritize other parts of the world over our own country.

I would argue it is a “both/and.”

I wonder if Jesus was around these days, how he would be labeled. When he recites the “Sermon on the Mount,” does he name specific groups in his part of the world, or does he speak to us all?

When he tell us to “love one another,” does he identify who “another” is or does he mean everyone?

Would Jesus be dismissed again, like he was so many years ago?

The natural criticism to spending on other parts of the world is that there is only so much money to spend, and our own people should be prioritized. Before you make this statement, dig deeper into the spending. Notice who is getting richer.

As only one, yet important example: “Billionaire wealth surges by $2 trillion in 2024, three times faster than the year before, while the number of people living in poverty has barely changed since 1990.”

There are 756 billionaires in the United States, by the way.

Perhaps this is the real answer to the earlier question of who is on the receiving end of an “America First” policy and agenda?

It is not my intention to criticize the success of billionaires or millionaires, rather, it is a request to examine policies, financial breaks and allocation, and accountability into systems that lead to the financial gaps that are hurting most American citizens.

Global Citizenship

Let’s return to VP Vance’s statement of prioritizing of responsibilities. While I hope this administration can care for all Americans who are in need, especially by reallocating funds and spending, and changing broken systems, we are also charged to care for others- no matter where they are born or live.

We are not just Americans, or however we identify spiritually. We are global citizens. We do not live in a bubble and no matter how hard we try, we will not be immune to the impact of injustices and inequities in other parts of the world.

Pandemics are just one example of how we are connected. A warming climate is another that leads to an increase in refugees, disease, and financial loss. Violence increases trauma, asylum seekers, and debt. Even from an American first perspective, we live on the same planet and will be impacted. Take morality out of the conversation, plus the care for others- from a very practical standpoint-we are not living in isolation- no matter how hard we may try.

But I am a Christian, and an American, and a global citizen. Yes, I can be all three, but Christian first. And while I care for my own home, communities, and country, I care for others too. I believe we, with all of our wealth and advancements in technology and science, have the means to fulfill our responsibility to others. Do we have the political and moral will?

One request, if you stayed with me this long…do your own research into the sufferings of the world. Then, as a follower of this Jesus who taught us how to love, reflect on what and who is our responsibility.

I pray you join me in finding an answer that, like our God, is big enough to help all.