Winston Salem church of Christ

You may or may not know me by name. I’m the guy who works the same shift at the plant. I’m the woman who sat at a nearby table the other day at the doughnut shop. I’m the grease-stained mechanic who periodically works on your car. I’m that old man who walks his dog past your house every morning. I’m the teenage hot-rod who cut in front of you on the freeway yesterday, and then glared back in disgust as if it was your fault. I’m the feeble old lady who lives in seclusion in her house down the street. I’m that obnoxious beer guzzler you had to sit by at last night’s baseball game, whose loud mouth you endured through extra innings. No, I’m not a Christian. I’m just your neighbor.

You might not like the way I live or the way I act. As I see it, a little dishonesty now and then is natural, even necessary. I can use profanity as well as anyone, and I don’t mind proving it on occasion. I think that happiness in life depends on what you have, what you can get, or what you can accomplish. My life is centered totally around self. Isn’t everybody’s? Maybe God is up there, but I’m not concerned with him. If he has any concern for me what did he take away my loved ones? I suppose religion is fine for some people, if that’s what they want. But I think those fanatics who let it control their lives are fools. Life is too short, there are too many problems, there’s too much pain. Why should I burden myself with something so restricting?

And yet…no mater how hard I try…I don’t ever seem to be able to find the happiness I’m looking for. I don’t understand why. I’m not a Christian. I’m just your neighbor.

You can see what my problem is even though I can’t. My concepts of God, morality, and true happiness are distorted. I’ve misunderstood the purpose for my being here. I don’t see sin for what it really is, a crime against my Maker and a cruel oppressor that holds me captive. And I don’t realize that eternal punishment is only a heartbeat away. But you understand all this. Will you allow me to continue in my ignorance without even lifting a finger to help? Isn’t there anything you can do?

Perhaps if you’d do me some kindness even when I don’t deserve it. Strike up a friendly conversation, show an interest in me. And don’t be afraid to mention God or morality. Yes, I’ll probably think you’re a little strange at first but don’t you see, I need help in thinking about such matters. If left up to me those things would rarely enter my mind. Show to me the happiness that you say accompanies one who serves God; let me see that there really are some people who found contentment in life.  Prove to me that total dedication to Christ lifts a man’s burdens instead of becoming an additional one.

But don’t stop there. Invite me to come worship with you. Ask me to come join you in a bible study. (If I say no at first, don’t give up on me.) Tell me about God’s plan of salvation, teach me those noble truths you know so well. Above all, be patient with me. Don’t become easily frustrated when those passages so clear to you do not appear so to me. Slowly and gently remove the scales of denominational religion from my eyes. Help me to be what I should be. Help me so that my soul can be saved too.

You may or may not know me by name, but I‘ll tell you who I am. I’m one who was going down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho who feel among thieves. I was stripped, I was beaten, I was left half-dead. Some have already seen me, and yet have passed me by. I’m not a Christian. Won’t you please be my neighbor? (Marty Pickup)

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Luke 10:25-37 NASB And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (26) And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” (27) And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” (28) And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE.” (29) But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (30) Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. (31) “And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (32) “Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (33) “But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, (34) and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. (35) “On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ (36) “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” (37) And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

The question is not, “Who is my neighbor?” The question is, “Am I a neighbor?”

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