How Far?
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18 NASB
Neighbor – Proxy Christianity is a wonderful way to avoid the real world. It allows me to simply pay for someone else to share in Christ’s suffering. I don’t have to get the dirt of broken humanity under my nails. I can just make a contribution to those who are stupid enough to actually go to those nasty and dangerous places. Of course, I would never actually say such things. Instead, I would laud the dedication of missionaries, the extraordinary spiritual service and devotion their lives exemplify. But a two-week mission trip is about the limit of my real involvement, and even then it takes enormous guilt to get me to leave the comfort of my pool in the middle of the summer. Compassion does have its limits!
Unfortunately, God doesn’t seem to share this deliberate distance view. According the Torah (and to Yeshua’s commentary on Torah), I am responsible to take action whenever I encounter anyone who has a need that I am able to meet. The parable of the Good Samaritan does not answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?” It answers the question, “How am I to act toward one who has been brought near to me?” The scribe asks for a definition of the object of concern. Yeshua provides an answer about the subject who demonstrates concern. I must be the neighbor who acts with compassion whenever and wherever I encounter someone in need. The only condition is this: Do I have the capacity to help?
Before you start worrying about the impact of helping everyone, remember what the Torah actually says, not what you imagine it says. A neighbor (in Hebrew rea’) is the one in proximity. As we have already noted, rea’ is a spatial term, not a spiritual term. Who is my neighbor? Anyone God brings near. God is still sovereign in this. I am not required to search the world for qualifying neighbors. As soon as I settle the issue within myself, God will certainly provide me with an antidote to proxy Christianity by drawing out someone in my proximity. Since every believer is expected to act with benevolence toward those in need who are close at hand, the whole Body will reach everyone around the world, one arm’s length at a time.
We might also note that our obligation as neighbors is to draw near to those in our circles who are in need. And drawing near is an allusion to the Hebrew idea of a sacrifice. To perform a sacrifice is to draw near to God. To act as a neighbor is to draw near to another. Do you suppose our actions are a form of sacrifice pleasing to the Father? I wonder if the actions of the Good Samaritan, who is certainly the picture of the neighbor, could be understood as acting with compassion toward God? “Unto the least of these” might just mean that fulfilling the second great commandment makes me a neighbor to God Himself. So, to whom are you a neighbor?
Topical Index: neighbor, rea’, Leviticus 19:18
Proactive vs Responsive living: proactive living is a means of control by anticipation; responsive living is a means of serving by anticipation. How are you trending?; seems to be the question today.
“a neighbor to God Himself.”
That idea seems to stand out, as over and above the rest of today’s writing. I think it is profound, and it make take a while to permeate my being (and my doing), as it should.
For me as well Gayle. It stood out like a big diamond in black sand.
This is such a fun and adventurous way to live!- Our neighbor, brother Skip, is the one who is near, regardless of who.
We we start living according to the Sovereignty of G-d (He is not an absentee Landlord) but rather is intricately and intimately involved in every detail of our lives, (include the hairs on each head), life becomes an adventure. “Love one another” becomes our “mission.” “People do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” We must, we must become people of compassion, because that is exactly who our G-d is.
Jesus wept. (John 11.35) Have I? Do I? What causes me to weep? Do the same things break my heart that broke His heart? Do we (now) have the mind of Christ? According to G-d’s book we do. (1 Corinthians 2.16) We (now) have the heart of a Servant. “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give His life a ransom for many.” “He took a towel and girded Himself, and began to wash the feet of the talmudim.” (this always ‘bumfuddles’ me) and it should deeply disturb all of us-very uncomfortable thought- G-d washing my feet. This causes me to ‘squirm like a worm.’ Why did He do this? Because this is who He is! A Servant. And this is who we should be- this is our role, this is our goal, this is our mission,- this is the mind of Christ: A Servant.
Brother Skip- you have rightly identified the role of Eve. She is the ezer. But all of us ‘Adams’ are the servants. We live to serve and we serve to live. (avad!) Folks, as I recall- it was the servants who ‘witnessed’ the water turn into wine! You think this was ‘coincidental’? lol!- Not a chance!
if you are REALLY asking;
Even tho our house is still far from finished we have “taken in” wanderers, disabled, and homeless. Sometimes just for a meal, and sometimes lots more. My husband does the cooking now, but when i was still able to prepare meals i never knew how many eaters to expect. Our frequency of guests is illustrated by this story: about two yrs ago, first thing in the morning I went to the trailer (which was where we lived til the prior few months). There was a stranger sleeping on the floor. We have probably welcomed 60 “passers-thru” during those 6yrs, and sometimes they would return the following year, so i didn’t want to call the police in case it was one of those persons, but my husband was gone for the week so i didnt feel entirely comfortable with any new un-announced guests. I went back to get my big blk whlchr dog to go with me & by the time i retrned the fellow was riding away on his bicycle.
Also, We usually have an “homeless” person living at our house. One guest stayed 3yrs. He was a mental patient but was open & honest with diagnosis & medications. The problems were mostly when he would try to “apply faith” and drop his meds. Since 13yo, he had never stayed in one place as long as he stayed with us. Now he is living on his own, out of an anchored boat & he still has contact with us every few months. He doesn’t have anyone else, not even family. Our current guest is physically disabled, and this is his 4th yr with us. He has actually helped us out on a weekly basis. That has been very nice.
.. What might other folks gain from our experience? i have been asked how i knew whether G-d put this guest “on our plate” or if it was us doing it ourselves. That did happen once, when someone later wanted to come back and live with us again. It became obvious very quickly that it was just too much; within 3days the stress was overwhelming & we had no time or energy for each other. If G-d puts it on our plate then it may be lots of work, but that work is a joy (even when sometimes it involves a lot of negative stuff). If we put it on our own plate then it is overwhelming & unbearable.
Actually, aside from our current guest, last week we told another homeless person that he could use our location for his “permanent address” in order to get surgery from the VA hospital. This is another mental patient, but he also has always been very open & honest with his health challenges. My concern is that if his Plan A doesnt work & he does actually need to live here during recovery, then there are probable complications if the timing is not precise. I know the Planner & i am pretty confident that i was supposed-to say “yes”, but i would appreciate prayer for the timing of everything involved.
Until now I have rarely said anything to anyone about our experiences, due to respect for personhood of those people we have assisted. One time i was told ” … But i know that i am nothing more than your current project” – & i truly want to avoid that kind of a “project” mentality. Also i think there is the potential trap of “… look at me”. I don’t want to fall into it.
Our neighbor is anyone outside of ourselves whether THE LORD is the one who brought them or THE LORD’S opposing one.. they are our neighbor.