“There are diverse degrees of Neighborhood. The word ‘neighbor’ is very (comprehensive); it comprehends in it all with whom we may have any civil (Communion) and so the greatest and strangest, and (all) of men. And it involves all the several (nations) and religions. So, in this respect, some may be our nearer neighbors than others. A brother is nearer than a stranger, etc. Hence, there are necessary degrees of the Law. That we are to love all equally alike is asserted, and from (variance) of the relations with God hath (created) among men unto which are to be discharged by a special love one to another. Hence Psalm 16:3, ‘But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.’ There are some who we ought to be more concerned for than others.”
Samuel Willard
Puritan
Body of Divinity – pgs. 584-585
Clearly the above quotes teach that we don’t treat all men the same though we do treat all men with charity and treating them with charity does not mean disadvantaging our own people.
Anybody who teaches you that we must treat all men as neighbors who doesn’t also teach that the Ordo Amors, by definition, means that there are different degrees of neighborliness is a false teacher. We are not required to welcome the stranger and the alien and that rejection would be neighborliness if it is in pursuit of not ruining our neighbors (Kith and Kin).
