Neighbor.
But [the expert in the law] wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho…
~ Luke 10:30
The fourth in a series on Jesus and social justice.
And so begins the story of the Good Samaritan. What would it mean for us to be “good Samaritans”? What does it mean to call ourselves Christians, “little Christs”? Surely it begins with recognizing Jesus as a unique representation of God’s heart, character, and message and then “following” in the way of Jesus (which he invites us to do 21 times in the gospels).
What does it mean to follow Jesus’ way? It revolves around the Kingdom of God that he assures us is very near (referenced over 100 times in the gospels) and that this is a way of life we can participate in now—a way of life that reflects the values, the healing, and the justice of heaven itself. Above all, this Kingdom is ruled by love—love of God and love of neighbor, upon which “all the Law and the Prophets hang.” Both John and Paul reinforce that love is the centerpiece of what it means to follow Jesus. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn 13:35).
So how are we doing? Are Christians generally known for their love? I would have to say that in some moments and places, yes, thankfully. But is this the general reputation of Christians to the average person on the street. I don’t think so. But for those who yearn to follow Jesus, love is the context for understanding and championing social justice in our world. We have to learn to recognize our neighbors.
The story of the Good Samaritan suggests that whoever is in my path that is in great need is my neighbor. And tellingly, the hero in the story is a foreigner. An immigrant. This disrespected minority offers the best healthcare available… at no cost to the injured man. And in doing so, several injustices are addressed in Jesus’ parable: 1) the injustice of greed and violence, 2) the injustice of inaccessible healthcare, 3) the injustice of the poverty gap, 4) the injustice of discrimination against immigrants, and 5) the injustice of some lives mattering more than others. These are all injustices that are as endemic today as they were in Jesus’ day.
All of this movement toward Kingdom justice was possible for one reason: because one person was able to really see the plight of another and believe that, although he was a stranger, he was also a neighbor. That we are all intrinsically connected in this mysterious web of creation. He is not “other”; he belongs to my tribe. And I carry the responsibility to do what’s in my power to do.
Once we agree that this is the ethic of what it means to inhabit God’s Kingdom, then we can confront the political implications of these systemic injustices with more loyalty to the injured than to a political party or platform. Perhaps then Christians would represent a more united front because we represent the heart of Christ himself. Because we see people as neighbors to be served more than as a threat to our privilege.
growing the soul
Do you think that privilege (spiritual, economic, racial, etc) brings responsibility? How do you feel about that? Personally, I find that both uncomfortable and compelling. How do you think Jesus would think about that?
serving the world
And what is the practical invitation of privilege? In other words, what needy person is lying in the road in front of you today?
takeaway
Love your neighbor.