Wednesday Word with the Pastors

Feb. 1, 2012

“But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity” (Luke 10:33).

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others. In dangerous valleys and hazardous pathways, he will lift some bruised and beaten brother to a higher and more noble life” (Strength to Love, “On Being a Good Neighbor”). King’s words are powerful because they were more than words. He and others risked their lives – offered up their bodies to abuse and violence – for the benefit of others. Who are some others who risked their lives along with King? Elementary kids. In Birmingham, Alabama, scores of children marched out onto the streets singing about freedom only to be met with high-powered water cannons mounted atop fire trucks. Police officers, somehow threatened by the presence of children, arrested hundreds of them and sent them to the jails. In this historical moment the children reveal to us what a neighbor truly is – one who risks his/her own safety for the welfare of others.

This is convicting to me. For I see how the opposite message is powerfully conveyed in our culture – “Take care of yourself first, and if you have anything left to give then think carefully about whom you give it to.” This seems prevalent in today’s political rhetoric, it is there in the churches, and, unfortunately, I see its powerful influence in my own life. Maybe you see it in your own too. It is a message that hinders us from obeying God’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves because it makes us wary of the stranger – it makes us lose the courage we need in order to risk our own safety for someone else’s benefit.

You see, a true neighbor does not neglect his/her own care, but also is not deterred by the necessary risk in caring for others. A true neighbor is motivated by a Godly love for every human person, and thus courage compels the true neighbor to become vulnerable for the sake of someone else’s benefit – even a stranger’s!

We are called to be the neighbor, but it is risky, and it is scary – especially if it means to act like the Good Samaritan. But, maybe we do not begin with such a great expression of courage; maybe we begin with smaller risks that produce courage over time. So, here is a small risk you can take this week: stop categorizing people into groups. Be humble and discerning when confronted with stereotypes. Be willing to know others before you critique them. To sum up, ask God to give you a Christ-like love for each person you think of or encounter. In other words, ask him to make you a neighbor!

Peace,
Aaron Teter