I share these thoughts hoping they are of help to someone else.
Comments are always welcomed.
If you find these thoughts helpful, please share.
Comments are always welcomed.
If you find these thoughts helpful, please share.
Be Like the Heretic
My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can't save anyone, can it? Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, "Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!"? What good is it if you don't actually give them what their body needs? In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity.
James 2:14-17 (CEB)
James 2:14-17 (CEB)
'Cause we can talk and debate it till we're blue in the face
About the language and tradition that He's coming to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don't have give a [$#!%]
About fifty thousand people who are dying today
About the language and tradition that He's coming to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don't have give a [$#!%]
About fifty thousand people who are dying today
From "What Matters More" by Derek Webb
In the Gospel of Luke, we read that one day a religious scholar decides to test Jesus by asking Him what he must do to obtain eternal life.1 Jesus responds by asking the scholar about the very thing he has dedicated his life to studying, the Jewish Law. He asks, "What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?"
The scholar replies by quoting commandments from the books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus.2 He says, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." In other Gospels, Jesus identifies these same two commandments as the greatest and second greatest commandments respectively.3 In one Gospel, He even goes so far as to suggest that all of the instructions in Scripture are derived from these two commandments.4
Naturally, Jesus likes the scholar's answer. He says, "You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live."
Unsatisfied, the scholar asks Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus then tells a story about a man who is traveling on the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho when he is attacked by robbers. He is stripped, beaten, and left by the side of the road to die. Eventually, a priest comes along, but, when he sees the injured man, he does not help him but rather walks to the other side of the road and passes him by. Later, a Levite comes along, and, when he sees the injured man, he does the same thing the priest did.
Both the priest and the Levite in Jesus' parable are required to know and understand the Jewish Law in order to carry out their responsibilities, not unlike the scholar who approached Jesus with a question. Priests are responsible for carrying out the requirements of the Law through their work in the temple, and Levites are responsible for teaching the Law to others, among other duties.5 Of all people, the priest and the Levite in Jesus' story should know best that the Law requires them to love their neighbor as they love themselves, yet, when they see a neighbor in need, they do not help him as they would hope someone would help them if they were in the same situation. Instead, they choose to prioritize their own safety and convenience.
Later on, a Samaritan comes along and sees the injured man, but, unlike the priest and the Levite who kept walking, he stops to help him. He administers first aid on the injured man and takes him to an inn where he can recover from his wounds. He pays the innkeeper for the man's room and board and promises to cover any additional expenses when he returns.
In Jesus' day, Jews and Samaritans hate each other. One reason is that they disagree on a number of doctrinal issues, including where God is to be worshiped and which scriptures are to be considered sacred.6 The religious scholar who approached Jesus would probably consider Samaritans to be heretics, people who hold opinions contrary to established religious teachings; however, in Jesus' story, the heretic is the only person who actually does what the Jewish Law requires.
Jesus, referring to the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan in the story, asks the religious scholar, "What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?"
The religious scholar replies, "The one who demonstrated mercy toward him."
Jesus says to the religious scholar, "Go and do likewise."
Many Christians put a little too much importance on having correct doctrine. In fact, many can be downright unkind in regards to their disagreements with others. Over the last two thousand years, churches and even entire denominations have split over doctrinal issues. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus reminds us that being right is not nearly as important as doing what is right. Doing what is right means prioritizing love over all things, putting our love for God and neighbor into action, and helping our neighbors in need, as we hope our neighbors would help us in our time of need.
Notes:
The scholar replies by quoting commandments from the books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus.2 He says, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." In other Gospels, Jesus identifies these same two commandments as the greatest and second greatest commandments respectively.3 In one Gospel, He even goes so far as to suggest that all of the instructions in Scripture are derived from these two commandments.4
Naturally, Jesus likes the scholar's answer. He says, "You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live."
Unsatisfied, the scholar asks Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus then tells a story about a man who is traveling on the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho when he is attacked by robbers. He is stripped, beaten, and left by the side of the road to die. Eventually, a priest comes along, but, when he sees the injured man, he does not help him but rather walks to the other side of the road and passes him by. Later, a Levite comes along, and, when he sees the injured man, he does the same thing the priest did.
Both the priest and the Levite in Jesus' parable are required to know and understand the Jewish Law in order to carry out their responsibilities, not unlike the scholar who approached Jesus with a question. Priests are responsible for carrying out the requirements of the Law through their work in the temple, and Levites are responsible for teaching the Law to others, among other duties.5 Of all people, the priest and the Levite in Jesus' story should know best that the Law requires them to love their neighbor as they love themselves, yet, when they see a neighbor in need, they do not help him as they would hope someone would help them if they were in the same situation. Instead, they choose to prioritize their own safety and convenience.
Later on, a Samaritan comes along and sees the injured man, but, unlike the priest and the Levite who kept walking, he stops to help him. He administers first aid on the injured man and takes him to an inn where he can recover from his wounds. He pays the innkeeper for the man's room and board and promises to cover any additional expenses when he returns.
In Jesus' day, Jews and Samaritans hate each other. One reason is that they disagree on a number of doctrinal issues, including where God is to be worshiped and which scriptures are to be considered sacred.6 The religious scholar who approached Jesus would probably consider Samaritans to be heretics, people who hold opinions contrary to established religious teachings; however, in Jesus' story, the heretic is the only person who actually does what the Jewish Law requires.
Jesus, referring to the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan in the story, asks the religious scholar, "What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?"
The religious scholar replies, "The one who demonstrated mercy toward him."
Jesus says to the religious scholar, "Go and do likewise."
Many Christians put a little too much importance on having correct doctrine. In fact, many can be downright unkind in regards to their disagreements with others. Over the last two thousand years, churches and even entire denominations have split over doctrinal issues. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus reminds us that being right is not nearly as important as doing what is right. Doing what is right means prioritizing love over all things, putting our love for God and neighbor into action, and helping our neighbors in need, as we hope our neighbors would help us in our time of need.
Notes:
- This perspective is based primarily on Luke 10:25-37. Quotations are taken from the Common English Bible.
- Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18
- Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:29-31
- Matthew 22:40
- Wikipedia: "Levite"
- Wikipedia: "Samaritans"
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