Who Is My Neighbor?

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But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29

Neighbors in Lebanon, Oregon probably wouldn’t agree with Carl Sandburg’s quote, “Love your neighbor as yourself; but don’t take down the fence.” Neighbors realized that Rebecca and Michael Kerrigone’s house desperately needed to be painted but the Kerrigones were unable to get it done. While the couple was gone visiting family, the Lebanon football team along with local and non-local neighbors joined together to get the massive painting project done before the couple returned home.

“I would have to say this is an incredible thing that you have done for us and I am so grateful and astonished, and it’s just an amazing thing. This huge outpouring of love for us is just something that’s going to sustain through coming months and years, and it’s just a beautiful thing,” Kerrigone said.

Edward Rust’s definition of a good neighbor is, “someone to be trusted; a courteous, friendly source of help when help is needed; someone you can count on; someone who cares.” Proverbs gives us warnings on how to treat our neighbors. “Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.” (Prov 3:29). Paul would later write in Romans for us, “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Rom 13:10)

Jesus listened intently as a religious leader and expert in the law gave a beautiful summary of how to inherit eternal life to which Jesus simply told him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” Case closed! However the man realized he didn’t like the possibilities of his answer, so he probed a little deeper with Jesus, now exactly “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25-37)

Neighbors come in all shapes, forms, and likeability so we can understand a little of why the religious leader wanted to get a better definition of who is a neighbor. We may have had neighbors who don’t mow their grass every week, play their music extra loud on the weekends, or cook some “strange” foods that have a pungent odor. Yet Jesus understood it is not those little peculiarities that the religious man was talking about, nor what we may be thinking.  Jesus confronted a much deeper issue related to the question.

Jesus didn’t try to answer the question with a lengthy dialogue or lecture, he told the man a story. Jesus shared about three men heading home from Jerusalem when they came upon a beaten, robbed, and bloodied man beside the road.  The man was totally unknown to any of the men so how could this man be their neighbor? The first one, a priest, didn’t even slow down as he walked past the body. The next man, a religious worker, slowed down but kept on walking. The third man, who was considered an outcast as far as society was concerned, slowed down, took time as he treated the man’s cuts, and carried him into the next town for additional medical care, at his own expense. Jesus looked at the religious leader and simply asked the question, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor?”

Jesus’ penetrating question to the religious leader, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor?”  forced the man to come to terms with who was his real neighbor. It is a question that every generation has had to come to terms with, including our generation. C. S. Lewis wrote in Joyful Christian, “Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.”

The religious leader had the same problem of defining “who is my neighbor” as we do in our current culture.  D. L. Mayfield writes, “One of the sad truths is that many of us live lives where we only interact with people who are similar to us—from the same ethnic background, or socio-economic class, or religion, or even those who have similar interests. Often we go to the same schools, churches, neighborhoods, and even grocery stores of people who look, act, and eat like us. Think about creative ways you can change even one of those factors—and see what happens!”

For over three decades, Mister Rogers invited viewers to be his neighbor as he opened his front door singing, “It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, A beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Please won’t you be my neighbor?” (lyrics written by Fred Rogers, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Mister Rogers’ iconic neighborhood captured the essence of a neighborhood that has slowly disappeared. There was a time when a simple American tradition created a unique sense of Mister Rogers’ neighborhood and that was the front porch. Regrettably, as technology has advanced, Americans have retreated from their front porches away from neighbors. This has contributed to creating isolation and suspicion among neighbors. The front porches of yesteryears allowed neighbors to connect, and enjoy fellowship and offered the gift of slowing down. As folks sat on their front porches, neighbors were no longer nameless, faceless homeowners but people we could talk to, share stories with, and most importantly, ‘love our neighbors as ourselves.”

Unfortunately rediscovering the lost art of porch sitting alone will not change our culture. What it can do however is create space for us to slow down and think about what it means to be a neighbor. “Passive righteousness tells us that God does not need our good works. Active righteousness tells us that our neighbor does. The aim and direction of good works are horizontal, not vertical.” (Tullian Tchividjian)

Jesus gave some amazing front porch wisdom that will change our culture, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV)

God is great!

A Simple Cup of Cold Water

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Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? James 2:15-16 (NIV)

Barbara was struggling to get up the stairs of her son’s Washington D.C. apartment building carrying a couple of bags of groceries. There was no elevator and she was dealing with orthopedic issues; how would she make it? A total stranger would make a difference in her life that day. Unnamed and unknown, a DC Metro bus driver, got off her bus, came over to where Barbara was carrying her bags, grabbed them, and carried them to the top of the stairs. (1440 Daily Digest)

John Sotelo was just doing his job stacking cases of water in a Clovis, CA Costco when he saw an envelope lying on the cases. To his surprise, it contained $3,940, a nice day’s work except he knew it wasn’t his money. He immediately informed his supervisor and they were able to find the person who dropped it, returning the cash to the woman. (USA Today).

IHOP server Tulio Maldonado got a much-needed lift and surprise when the $1,000 Breakfast Club of Saugus, Massachusetts happened to be at one of the tables. The group of 10 friends gathers every couple of months and surprises their server with a huge tip, at least $1,000. Club member Jeffrey Paris said, “You don’t need to be a millionaire or famous celebrity to make someone’s day. I’m pretty sure this guy will never forget this.”  (WCVB News)

An act of kindness, does it make a difference? Princess Diana said, “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward.” Jesus said it better, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42)

There are countless studies and articles on how and why our current culture has become so angry and suspicious of others. A new level of mean-spirited hatefulness has risen in the country. I’m sure you can find any number of reasons for the cultural crisis depending on your point of view. However, we can learn a few lessons from the early church on living in a hostile society.

The modern church is often characterized by having the best-educated leaders in church history, magnificent edifices to meet in on Sundays, and tremendous financial resources. However, statistics reflect massive declines among all denominations – a trend that is especially true in the United States and Europe. In comparison, the early church was characterized as being poor, powerless, and politically marginalized, yet it changed the course of the world. Sociologists estimate that Christianity grew at an incredible 40% per decade from this rag-tag band of 1000 or so followers to more than 34 million Christians by the third century.

Luke writes of the early Believers in Acts “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:44-47)

Compassion characterized the early church members as they lived in their hostile and doubting world. Jesus wasn’t just a slogan for the early church, He was the reason for existence. The Good News of Jesus really did become Good News.

“Christianity served as a revitalization movement that arose in response to the misery, chaos, fear and brutality of life in the urban Greco-Roman world…To cities filled with the homeless and impoverished, Christianity offered charity as well as hope. To cities filled with newcomers and strangers, Christianity offered an immediate basis for attachments. To cities filled with orphans and widows, Christianity provided a new and expanded sense of family. To cities torn by violent ethnic strife, Christianity offered a new basis for social solidarity. And to cities faced with epidemics, fires, and earthquakes, Christianity offered effective nursing services.” (Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity)

I am not sure that just one act of kindness will turn the tide of cultural hostility but millions of acts of kindness could create a tidal wave of change. “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” (Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu)

It was these acts of kindness moments that took a poor, powerless, and politically marginalized group of men and women to change the world. Their love and compassion created an openness to talk about Jesus and the hope He brought. Roman emperor, Julian the Apostate was so impressed by the selfless acts of Christians that he wanted his pagan priesthood to imitate Christian institutions and practices. Early church historian, Eusebius recorded that “All day long some of them (the Christians) tended to the dying and to their burial, countless numbers with no one to care for them. Others gathered together from all parts of the city a multitude of those withered from famine and distributed bread to them all.” (Matt Crawford, Biblemesh)

This small band of resurrection-focused and Spirit-filled Believers took the words of Jesus to heart as they impacted their communities. These early Christians didn’t just make a difference in their homes, communities, and countries, they made the world a different place.

I think we can agree that changing the landscape of our current society will not be an easy task. However, we do have some good examples from this group of poor, powerless, and politically marginalized men and women in the early church who literally shook up their culture. Could it be that simple acts of kindness might be one small step that is needed to open the door to change? It’s worth a try!

God is great!

Living in the Aftermath

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A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. Matthew 2:18 (NIV)

“Yes, Aslan,” said both the children. But Polly added, “But we’re not quite as bad as that world, are we, Aslan?” “Not yet, Daughter of Eve,” he said. “Not yet. But you are growing more like it. It is not certain that some wicked one of your race will not find out a secret as evil as the Deplorable Word and use it to destroy all living things. And soon, very soon, before you are an old man and an old woman, great nations in your world will be ruled by tyrants who care no more for joy and justice and mercy than the Empress Jadis. Let your world beware. That is the warning.” (from The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis)

C.S. Lewis was no stranger to evil. As a young soldier, he experienced the ravages of war when he was seriously wounded by a mortar shell in World War 1 and lost two of his colleagues including his beloved sergeant, Harry Ayers. He would later write in The Weight of Glory, “War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has always been lived on the edge of a precipice. Human culture has always had to exist under the shadow of something infinitely more important than itself. If men had postponed the search for knowledge and beauty until they were secure, the search would never have begun. We are mistaken when we compare war with “normal life.” Life has never been normal.”

If Lewis experienced the horror of evil up close, how much more so did he experience hope through Christ? His faith would shape and mold his thinking allowing him to see through the curtain of evil’s darkness. I wonder as he wrote the story of Lucy, Peter, Susan, and Edmund finding their way through the wardrobe that Lewis knew the fight against evil would be difficult. As the children entered the land of Narnia, an imaginary land ruled by the tyrannical White Witch, they would encounter evil. As one character in the story said of Narnia, “always winter and never Christmas.” The four siblings experienced a new life as they encountered the great lion, Aslan, and through their journey with him, defeated the White Witch and freed Narnia from her power.

On October 7 at 6:30 in the morning the nation of Israel again experienced the reality of “life has never been normal.” The nation was slowly awakening having begun Simchat Torah celebrations the previous sundown. Instead of a day of continuing celebration, they would hear the air sirens bellow as hundreds of rockets were fired into the heart of Israel. They would find thousands of Hamas militants had breached the border, launching a house-to-house terror campaign. “An Associated Press reporter quotes an Israeli army general who stood amid the wreckage of the village: “You see the babies, the mothers, the fathers in their bedrooms and how the terrorists killed. It’s not a battlefield. It’s a massacre.” (Jim Denison, Denison Forum)

The days following the initial attack continue to find a world in mourning, disbelief, and sadness. The images of war and evil on our TV and computer screens can sedate us into a false narrative that we can’t do anything about the situation.  We don’t see how we can make a difference in a situation miles away. However, German pastor Martin Niemoller’s words seem appropriate for this current crisis. Niemoller didn’t think he could make a difference until he realized his silence made him part of the evils of Nazism. His words about guilt and responsibility continue to call us to conviction and action decades later.

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

 

What can we do?

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122) “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”

Pray for global leaders to have godly wisdom. “By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth.” (Proverbs 8:15-16)

Pray for those in positions of leadership to be called merciful and peacemakers. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:7,9)

Pray for the de-escalation of the conflict, against those who have a vested interest in escalating the crisis and causing untold suffering. “He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” (Mark 4: 39)

Pray for the victims of these atrocities. “We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.” (Psalm 124:7)

Former President Ronald Reagan once warned, “When men try to live in a world without God, it’s only too easy for them to forget the rights that God bestows.” “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 125:1-2)

The great hope we can share and the hope we have is in Christ. Though it seems we are in the midst of “winter” days, when all the world seems to be in chaos “Christmas” has come. We can confidently pray for the families in Israel and the powerless in Gaza. We can expect more of our political leaders because ultimately they are under the control of God.  We can be part of God’s Kingdom that “His will be done on earth as in heaven.”

God is great!

“Peace be on Israel” (Psalm 125:5b)

 

Jesus’ Invitation

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Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.” Matthew 14:25-26

You just ordered your tall Pumpkin Spice Latte, extra hot, skim milk, one pump with no whipped cream but as you are heading toward your chair to savor your drink, you notice someone familiar. You know you’ve seen the young woman before but from where? She is not from work, not from your church, and doesn’t live in the neighborhood but you know you know her. I am sure that is how a lot of customers felt on a Saturday morning in an LA coffee shop when Kelly Clarkson shocked everyone with an impromptu flash mob performance of her new song from her upcoming album. You never know what surprises await you in life!

Surprised was most likely how Zacchaeus felt on that warm, sunny day when Jesus found him up in a tree on a dusty road to Jericho. The story about Zacchaeus is familiar to most people since most of us have probably sung his theme song at one point or another. “Zacchaeus was a wee little man; And a wee little man was he; he climbed up in a sycamore tree; For the Lord he wanted to see; And when the Savior passed that way; He looked up in the tree; And said, ‘Zacchaeus, you come down; For I’m going to your house today!; For I’m going to your house today!’; Zacchaeus was a wee little man; But a happy man was he; For he had seen the Lord that day; And a happy man was he; And a very happy man was he”

You can thank me later for putting those words in your mind that will keep popping up all day long!

It had probably been a long time since Zacchaeus had heard his name without someone spitting on the ground as they said it. The Bible doesn’t tell us why Zacchaeus decided to become a tax collector. Maybe it was the only job he could get at the time or he knew he could make money by being one. Whatever the reason it had been a long time since Zacchaeus had lived up to the meaning of his name: pure and innocent. Yet on this particular day, while hanging onto a tree limb, he heard his name, not laced with profanity, but with love.

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.” (Luke 19:5-6 NIV)
Jesus was no stranger to pulling off impromptu flash mob performances. Months earlier Jesus had been walking through town and stopped at the tax collection booth where Matthew worked. Unlike Zacchaeus who had made the effort to see Jesus, Matthew kept working, that was until he heard his name and an invitation, “Follow me.” Matthew was surprised but it didn’t take him long to put down his pen and leave behind his lucrative profession to follow Jesus. (see Matthew 9:9-13)

What do you do when you hear the new song that Jesus invites you to sing? You throw a party! “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.” (Matt 9:10). If you are a Matthew or a Zacchaeus then your list probably will not include the social elite, the powerful or the “righteous” but they will include people you want to hear Jesus’ new song.

It is incredible how many stories there are about tax collectors in the Bible! Jesus had told a parable in Luke 18 comparing the self-professed righteous religious leaders with a tax collector. The religious leader prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” (v11-12). However, the tax collector stood at a distance and pleadingly prayed, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (v13)

Guess which one had center billing in Jesus’ story? “I tell you that this man (the tax collector), rather than the other (the religious leader), went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (v14)
“When people are empty of Christ, a thousand and one things come and fill them up: jealousies, resentment, a worldly outlook, worldly pleasures. Try to fill your soul with Christ so that it’s not empty.” –St. Porphyrios

When Matthew heard his name called by Jesus, he closed up shop and followed Jesus. When Zacchaeus heard his name called by Jesus, he climbed down from the tree and went with Jesus. Overwhelmed with grace, he changed his business practices as he made right the wrongs he had done to others.

Tax collector, sinner, and outcast may have been considered synonyms among the religious and elite society of Jesus’ day but not for Jesus. Jesus looked into a booth and invited Matthew to finally come home. Jesus looked up into a tree and invited Zacchaeus to finally come home. We may have someone or a group in mind that is our synonym for tax collector. However, Jesus doesn’t because he is looking into the nooks and crannies of life with the same invitation of hope and life, “Follow me”

God is great!

Life on the Roller Coaster

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The LORD is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (CSB)

Deep down you knew it was stupid but you did it anyway. What is that? Walking down a platform, letting a total stranger buckle you into a metal car, and hearing the words, “Keep your arms inside the car!” You just paid good money to spend the next minute of your life going up and down the tracks of a roller coaster. Roller coasters – the iconic symbols of amusement parks around the world. The brainchild of LaMarcus Thompson who designed and built the first roller coaster which opened on June 16, 1884, at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. For a nickel, the riders could scream and yell as the cars reached the breathtaking speed of 6 mph.

Fast forward a few decades when the Kingda Ka opened in 2005 becoming the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the United States reaching a height of 456 feet and traveling at a max speed of 128 mph. For 50 seconds the riders get to experience terror, thrill, and whiplash in their bodies as they are plummeted and jotted through the tracks of Kingda Ka.

Once the attendant bolts you into the car you know the experience will quickly end. Even though your roller coaster ride will create inner turmoil, there will be an end when you step back onto the platform. Unfortunately, life can often resemble a roller coaster ride!

There are days when you feel like you stepped into a roller coaster car and before you could settle, you were flying through one turn to another. The emotions and stress seem to overwhelm your inner soul. Last Saturday brought the excitement and joy of celebrating our youngest granddaughter’s first birthday only to find myself this last Friday standing at the gravesite of my brother. Life seems too often filled with roller coaster days, weeks, and months.

Jesus anticipated that many of our days would feel like roller-coaster days. During his watershed sermon in Matthew (Chapters 5-7), part of his message was to encourage his followers not to worry but to trust God. If God can provide for the birds of the air, you can know you are more valuable to Him than any creature of nature. Jesus closed the section with the words, “Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt 6:34)

For most of us, we can ride the roller coaster and get off, even if our heads are spinning. We take to heart Paul’s word in Philippians “Don’t worry about anything… (Phil 4:4-7), or Peter’s encouragement to “cast all your cares on him, because he cares about you.” (I Peter 5:7). David who lived a roller coaster life was able to write, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22)

However, there is a growing segment of the world that is finding it hard to get out of the roller coaster car. Issues of mental illness, traumatic stress, substance use, hopelessness, chronic pain and illness, social isolation, or feeling like a burden to others plague an increasing number of people annually. For many the only way off of the roller-coaster is through suicide.

Dr. Kathryn Butler writes, “For millions of people across the U.S., and multiples of that number globally, the horror of death seems a better alternative than the slings and arrows of this life…As stewards of the greatest message of hope in history, churches are uniquely positioned to minister to those grappling with thoughts of self-harm.”

The problems that confront people leading to the hopelessness of suicide are not new societal issues. One of David’s leading advisors faced the reality of what was coming and scripture says, “When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He set his house in order and hanged himself. So, he died and was buried in his father’s tomb” (2 Samuel 17:23)

September was National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in the United States and the UN World Health Organization (WHO) declared September 10 as World Suicide Prevention Day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is one death by suicide every 11 minutes. Every segment of society confronts suicide but there is an alarming growth among our nation’s children and teenagers.

God is here for those who find themselves on a roller coaster ride and for those who can’t seem to get off of the ride. God reaches out with hope as the Psalmist captures in Psalm 147 when he writes, “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” (v3)

Frederick Buechner writes, “What Genesis suggests is that this original self, with the print of God’s thumb still upon it, is the most essential part of who we are and is buried deep in all of us as a source of wisdom and strength and healing which we can draw upon or, with our terrible freedom, not draw upon as we choose…The original, shimmering self gets buried so deep that most of us end up hardly living out of it at all. Instead, we live out all the other selves which we are constantly putting on and taking off like coats and hats against the world’s weather.”

Helping someone find their “original shimmering self” may not be easy. It takes time as we learn to listen, to pray, and to care for people in their deepest places. Reaching out a hand to help someone step out of the roller coaster car is part of being a soul friend. There may come a time when we need to sit with someone and encourage them to text or call 988, the suicide prevention number that is open 24/7.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding. He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless.” (Isaiah 40:28-29)

Together we make a difference because we have a God who can!

God is great!