How To Neighbor “Crossing The Street”
Remember growing up with toys…boys and girls both had dolls whether Barbie, GI Joe or wrestlers. I want you to take a moment about what those dolls looked like…did they look like you? Or did they look different than you? Now think about how that may have formed your opinion of others from different ethnic backgrounds throughout your life. Crazy to think that could have affected you right? I was amazed at the thought of it as well! So how do we tear down walls in our life to reach others we may not have know even existed.
- Confront Your PREJUDICE (Luke 10:25-29)
- So many times we don’t even realize our prejudice exists. The definition of prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience (or a prejudgement). For the lawyer asking the question, he prejudged that his neighbor is only those who look like Him.
- We often make prejudgements without even realizing it…it isn’t necessarily the act of making a prejudgement—it’s the heart behind it that makes it an issue of sin
(James 2:9)
- Seek To UNDERSTAND OTHERS (Luke 10:30-34)
- The Parable is a picture of where we stand many times in our walks! We refuse to take the perspective of seeing what others see & placing ourselves in their shoes! The Samaritan crossed the street and put himself in the shoes of the man who was harmed. Perhaps he had been there before himself and others walked by him & didn’t help…regardless he took a moment to view it from the Traveler’s perspective.
- The Religious Leaders were too worries about sustaining their cleanliness that they weren’t willing to get dirty to help the traveler. Don’t we sometimes do the same?
- Love Those DIFFERENT than YOU (Luke 10:35-37)
- We are all called to love one another. Nothing more nothing less. The Samaritan…the race the Jews despised (and the feelings were mutual from the Samaritans), was from a totally different background with a totally different view point, yet he showed mercy & love and cared for someone different than him. This is a perfect picture of the Gospel
- When we get stuck thinking only people like us can make it to God…we miss out on the beauty of Heaven described in Revelation ( 7:9)
Jesus never answered the question “Who Is My Neighbor?” The beauty is He taught how to Neighbor! HUGE Difference! Dr. Martin Luther King said it well…
“The first question the priest and Levite asked was, “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But the Good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop and help this man, what will happen to him?’”
Dr. Martin Luther King
Take Away:
Racism isn’t just what we do—sometimes it’s what we don’t do. Are you withholding from people who are different from you?
How will you “Cross The Street” this week to love your neighbor: reconcile a relationship, invite someone to dinner, start a conversation?
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Tyler West 