The First Baptist Church of Redlands
T A PE S T R Y
Nov 2020
Wo v e n To g e t h e r I n L o v e : C o l o s s i a n s 2 : 2
The Neighbor A Message from Pastor Shawn
I preached on this passage a couple of weeks ago, but it seems that we can’t talk about loving our neighbor too much, especially in times like these. Jesus links this commandment with the one that everyone knows is the greatest: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength. Jesus says that these two commandments pretty much sums it all up. The idea that these two go together is not really that shocking. Many rabbis over the generations would put these together. When we love God completely it extends to loving others. The problem is that loving others is hard to do. Because of that we like to come up with ways to be let off the hook. There was one guy, a lawyer, who asked a typical “lawyer” question, “So who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ answer was a story about a guy that gets beat up and mugged on this rather dangerous road. After two religious professionals notice him but don’t stop to help, finally someone stops. Now the kicker of the story is the guy who stops is a Samaritan, who in that time would never be the hero of the story. Jews and Samaritans didn’t get along AT ALL….for generations. And Jesus makes him the hero of the story who stops, gathers the poor guy on his donkey and takes him to an inn. The Samaritan takes care of the guy and then pays the inn keeper to see that the beat-up guy has everything he needs. Then Jesus turns the question around and asks the lawyer, “So who was the good neighbor?” The one who helps. We can come up with all sorts of arguments for not loving a particular “neighbor.” Maybe they are an inconsiderate neighbor who is noisy late at night or cuts the trees on your side of the fence without asking. Maybe they are a family member who has hurt you or someone close to you and you just can’t forgive them. Maybe they are “a sinner” who is involved in a practice or a lifestyle that goes against your beliefs. Maybe they are of a different political party and they are particularly obnoxious about it. Or maybe, just maybe we don’t notice them. We can’t see past our own circle to know who they are or what life is like for them.
Issue No. 11
“…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22: 39
The song that Mister. Rogers sang on his show every day, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” is going through my head as I write this. I am struck by the fact that he is inviting me—and anyone else listening—to be his neighbor. It is not a chore or a sacrifice. It is an invitation he is hoping the person will accept: I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you So let’s make the most of this beautiful day Since we’re together, we might as well say Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor? Won’t you please Won’t you please Please won’t you be my neighbor? Could it be that Mr. Rogers, a Presbyterian minister, was thinking about Jesus’ words about loving neighbor and not just singing a kid song? Is it possible that we can love people like that? In a time of tension and polarization like the one in which we find ourselves? Will people look at us and see us as good neighbors? See us as people who love our neighbors? People who actually invite people into the relationship of being a neighbor? It is in striving to love the Lord our God with all of our being and that we are empowered to love our neighbor as ourselves and actually love doing it. And so let us love! Pastor Shawn