Friday, July 9, 2010

like a good neighbor...

The parable of the Good Samaritan.
A good news story.
A story Jesus told
yesterday
and today.

The punch line...
the moral...
the calling from God:
"And who was the good neighbor?"

Indeed
who was
the good neighbor?

Was the good neighbor
the one who walked by
saying:

"Well he deserves it."
"I love him, but
if you all agree to do
something about this...
well, I'm leaving the church."

Was the good neighbor
the one who walked by
saying:

"I don't want to be bothered."
"How many times are
you going to make the
church deal with this?
If you keep bringing this up...
well, I'm leaving the church."

The good neighbor
was the one who stopped
and did something
despite the perspectives
of the surrounding
world and culture.

The good neighbor
was the one who took risks
despite the threats
of abandonment
hurled by family members
and neighbors.

Like a good neighbor
the 219th General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
like other GA's before them
voted 373 to 323
to change language
in the Book of Order
that would open the way
for gay ministers and elders
to faithfully and openly serve the church.

________


The parable...
the story of the good neighbor...
the definition of
a good neighbor...
well,
it's Biblical.
Jesus said it.
Jesus lived it.

No comments: