Just for the record, and to put this story into it's proper context, this is the portion of Jesus' teaching that I believe we are failing to live up to this weekend. It's taken from The Message, primarily because I think Eugene Peterson captures why the scholar asked the follow up question, "And just how would you define neighbor?" He was looking for a way to exclude people. Jesus basically says "Exclude nobody." He goes so far as to tell a story that involves Samaritans - a group of people despised by Jews - as the hero of the story. ... as a neighbor ... as one we're called to love.
Defining "Neighbor"
25 Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. "Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?"26 He answered, "What's written in God's Law? How do you interpret it?"
27 He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence--and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself."
28 "Good answer!" said Jesus. "Do it and you'll live."
29 Looking for a loophole, he asked, "And just how would you define 'neighbor'?"
30-32 Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.
33-35 "A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill--I'll pay you on my way back.'
36 "What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"
37 "The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded.
Jesus said, "Go and do the same."
4 Comments
Scripture must be interpreted by Scripture. Absolutely, we should go out of our way for others in need, but in ministry, we must also speak the truth to people--the truth is the only thing that changes people's lives and sets them free. What if the man attacked by robbers was a murderer? Would one be a good neighbor to tell him that it's okay to live as a murderer? What about an adulterer? Or, a fornicator? Or a liar? etc. etc. The right thing to do, of course, is to help the man in need, but then if one knows that that man is living a sinful life, to then share the truth of God's Word with Him.
Jesus ministered to the outcasts of society, but he also ministered to them in truth. He told the woman caught in adultery to sin no more. The tax collector left behind his life of cheating people and made up what he had cheated to people. If we do not become new creations in Christ then we are not really in Christ. The Apostle John was quite clear in 1 John that if we claim to walk in the light yet walk in the darkness, then we are not walking in the truth.
Love is never devoid of truth.
Unfortunately, the Truth is being obscured by our collective action as a church to not meet them. Go back to your example of the woman caught in adultery. First off, Jesus MET with her. He didn't refuse because he disapproved of her lifestyle. Secondly, He didn't condemn. He spoke in love. We just totally seem to be missing that example here.
Point taken. I would encourage you then to go to the park and to meet and talk with them, using it as an opportunity to share the truth in love. I think it would then be great if you wrote a post about what happens.
I do plan on making it out there. Blog followup is a certainty. Also have a request in with some of the Soulforce leaders for some Q&A.