Lionel may mean one of these posts:

Gathering or Going?
Going… Really Going
The Gathered and the Sent

-Alan

Do you know of which post Alan made on the issue of being a “going people”? Would love to check it out

And yes, I do think agree than our ecclessiology has become to our detriment. Even the writer or Hebrews, when encouraging not failing to meet with each other, was not writing with it in mind that also had a job to do reflecting the Lord in the community—the very reason why many were being persecuted and didn’t want to get together anymore.

And some things, I do wonder about how Jesus would be treated since in his day he often got in EXTREME trouble for not supporting certain social events the same way others did…for if the gathering was solely about the gathering rather than gathering so others could go out/gather more to the group, it was not really true “gathering”. It was either a DEBATE/Philosophy session on Theology, Hanging out or just chilling.

All of that is speculation of course. But the text doesn’t say one thing about the man’s mindset character—as it could have been anything….but most seem to automatically lean toward seeing the beat up dude as more “helpless/innocent” than warranted because naturally we want to help “good people”—-rather than being open to being responsible for the bad ones as well. And what the scripture makes makes clear is that the man’s character was NOT a factor in whether or not responsibility was to be discussed. What mattered is that—-good or bad—your neighbor is anyone in need…….even if it’s enemies, whether it be Osama Ben Ladin…the PERSON convicted of Child Rape months ago…or your Co-Worker who gets on yo last nerve.

Luke 6:27-36 is still something I wrestle with—and praying for grace to fufill it. For its one thing being willing to aid the destitute who I get along with—but another when the woman is cussing you out or the guy wants to take you out too.

How often do you hear churches say “Of course we help the poor!!” and then realize that its only the poor that look acceptable enough…while the Drug Addict off the street would NEVER be allowed in as quickly as the woman who had 5 kids/looked better.

Some will only aid those who show themselves “Able to PAY Back”–even though Jesus said in Luke 14:12-14 that when throwing a party, one should not invite those able to pay you back…and that specifically, those unable to do so were the ones to focus upon. But many times, the people/poor we do not LIKE are the very ones we don’t want to invite to fellowship…

And we cannot do otherwise seeing how CHRIST chose to treat us—–blessing/saving us even when we were not at our best and having compassion/mercy when we didn’t deserve it

Luke 10:1

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26″What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27He 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.’]”
28″You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins[] 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.
36″Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Sincerly, does anyone ever ask when it comes to the MAN that was helped by the Good Samaratan whether or not the man beaten on the road was a BAD MAN–or what his character was like? What if the man when he was in good shape would’ve probably been one who would’ve harmed the Samaratan himself if he saw him? None of those issues which we always seem to ask when it comes to helping others were of as much importance as the fact that the man was in need of HELP….and someone showed enough love to give it.

And that’s the issue I think many seem to forget. Cannot tell you the amount of stories I hear from those who used to be hopeless on the streets and in the realm of being qualified by others as “not deserving of aid/help” and how someone looked past the flaws and showed compassion on them in such a way that they truly saw the love/mercy of Christ and it made the difference in them being solid disciples/aiding others today.

But in our battle to discuss who we’re “responsible” for, how often do we think we’ve taken care of our responsibilities because we helped out others—-only to never realize that we helped out only those that we wanted to help and that fit our view of those who “deserve to be helped”.

All that aside, Great post…

For to me, its interesting that each of the kats who left the man on the road had something “legitmate” they needed to handle—like making it on time to the temple or going to fufill their duties as a priest and a Levite. And if they made it to their fellowship/gig in time to do their “responsibility”, cool—–but did that mean other responsibilities were not circumvented in the process that may have been greater? Matters of loving the weighter matters of law like Justice/Mercy rather than just following the outline…

Happens all the time–as many churches will discuss how having we need to have more time together in fellowship..and thus, we make that a priority. However, when we come together, we collectively pass about 3 to 4 homeless guys or others in need—and think that because another responsibility has been filled, it’s inconsequential as to other things. If honest, this has happened many times….where one’s late for fellowship/church and excited how they’re builing a sanctuary for the group….but could care less about opening it up to the destitute—and then saying “If you want to help the destitute, it’s upon you personally to do so”….giving the impression that the phrase “We need to help each other” is really a buzz word subject to convience.

Even for those not using buildings, its amazing to me to see that many times they can feel good that made it for Bible Study in their own homes—-and yet, if it came to finding ways to get the group in the homes to collectively hit the streets—-contentment would be more so in feeling “bad” for the people and “praying for them/wishing them well” so it could not be said that one did nothing/

Dear brother! You are so right!

Thanks Alan, I am beginning to learn this more and more each day.

It’s like the parable of the good Samaritan that you mentioned. If God brings them into my life, then I am responsible for them until God moves them out of my life. By the way, there are some people who are in my life much more than others.

-Alan