- Nov 30, 2003
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On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he 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, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
A Catholic bishop happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man. He thought he was one of the teenage boys who was molested by his priests and so he passed by on the other side. Not to worry, he thought, the essence of God is mercy. So he was not afraid when he would be standing in front of Christ on Judgment Day.
So too, a Lutheran pastor, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Not to worry, he believed he was saved by faith alone. He did not care about this man.
Then a Calvinist walked by. When he saw the man lying on the road, he believed that God must have predestined this man to suffer. Far be it for him to interfere with God's will! He passed him by.
Then a Charismatic walked by. But he did not feel led by the Holy Spirit to help him so he just walked pass him.
Someone who writes on Christian Forums then walked by. He thought that the man might have been someone who made him look bad lately on the forum. Besides, he just thought of some more good posts so he did not have time to help him. So he left him.
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these six do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:25-37
(Packermann Paraphrase - Red Letter Edition)
Each one except the Christian Forum contributor was influenced by his/her theology. The bishop thought that God was so merciful that he did not have to care for the man. The Lutheran believed that he was justified by faith alone, so he did not care. The Calvinist saw everything to be God's will, so why bother? The Charismatic just waits to be led by the Spirit. Its not his fault if he does not feel led to help him.
Our theology molds our character. Our Lord in this passage said that love is necessary in order to have eternal life. Jesus said in another place that by their fruits you will know them. He was talking about our theology. If your theology is not making you more and more loving, as Christ has loved us, then I would encourage you to re-think your theology.
The Christian Forum contributor is the one not influenced by theology. Or maybe he has good theology but has forgotten it because he is obsessed with his next posts. He spends more time on this forum than praying to God or helping others. I think I have fallen into this. He has more important things to do. He just does not have the time. He has to rush home and create 20 more posts on the forum. And besides, maybe that man suffering is the person who has slammed him on the forum. Why should he help him?
Thoughts?
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he 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, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
A Catholic bishop happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man. He thought he was one of the teenage boys who was molested by his priests and so he passed by on the other side. Not to worry, he thought, the essence of God is mercy. So he was not afraid when he would be standing in front of Christ on Judgment Day.
So too, a Lutheran pastor, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Not to worry, he believed he was saved by faith alone. He did not care about this man.
Then a Calvinist walked by. When he saw the man lying on the road, he believed that God must have predestined this man to suffer. Far be it for him to interfere with God's will! He passed him by.
Then a Charismatic walked by. But he did not feel led by the Holy Spirit to help him so he just walked pass him.
Someone who writes on Christian Forums then walked by. He thought that the man might have been someone who made him look bad lately on the forum. Besides, he just thought of some more good posts so he did not have time to help him. So he left him.
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these six do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:25-37
(Packermann Paraphrase - Red Letter Edition)
Each one except the Christian Forum contributor was influenced by his/her theology. The bishop thought that God was so merciful that he did not have to care for the man. The Lutheran believed that he was justified by faith alone, so he did not care. The Calvinist saw everything to be God's will, so why bother? The Charismatic just waits to be led by the Spirit. Its not his fault if he does not feel led to help him.
Our theology molds our character. Our Lord in this passage said that love is necessary in order to have eternal life. Jesus said in another place that by their fruits you will know them. He was talking about our theology. If your theology is not making you more and more loving, as Christ has loved us, then I would encourage you to re-think your theology.
The Christian Forum contributor is the one not influenced by theology. Or maybe he has good theology but has forgotten it because he is obsessed with his next posts. He spends more time on this forum than praying to God or helping others. I think I have fallen into this. He has more important things to do. He just does not have the time. He has to rush home and create 20 more posts on the forum. And besides, maybe that man suffering is the person who has slammed him on the forum. Why should he help him?
Thoughts?
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