Start loving your neighbor by getting to know your actual neighbors
Sam, writing for “Grace Ground“, is producing a wonderful series called “Getting to Know Our Neighbors.”
So far, there is an introduction and five posts in the series, but it looks like there will be more. Here are links to the first five posts: Introduction, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.
Sam describes his purpose in writing this series in the introduction:
We enjoy getting to know neighbors. It may appear to come natural to us, but we make it an intentional part of following Jesus. In this series I will discuss some of the methods that have worked for us in getting to know our neighbors, how we move some of the relationships beyond just being acquainted, and what we’re doing now to move those relationships to yet another level.
Did you notice that he said “intentional”? I think that’s very important.
Sam says that activities as simple as walking around the neighborhood and complimenting a neighbor’s yard can help us begin building relationships with the people who live near us.
I have some good friends who are much better at this than I am. It’s great to have examples like them to follow.
What do you think about Sam’s posts? Are you getting to know the people who live near you?
Alan,
I am seeing in certain circles a disdain for putting feet to our faith. I recently heard a pastor say that to want to make an impact on your community was Marxism and social justice. He was actually preaching out of Romans on zeal without knowledge and said that to want to impact your city showed that you had zeal without knowledge. Using the terms Marxism and social justice when you are discussing the government trying to meet every need is appropriate, but I was quite stunned to hear it applied to the church meeting needs. Such statements aren’t being backed up with scripture obviously, but I have heard some in that camp state that when scripture talks about the widows and orphans it is only talking about those within the body of Christ.
If you were met with such statements, how would you answer them? It is becoming a prevailing theme among many of my friends and I want to be able to answer them correctly. Because they are misusing the obvious scriptures, I am stuck.
Thanks so much!
Lora
Lora,
There are some important passage, like Jesus’ instructions to love our enemies, or his example using the Good Samaritan (especially when we consider the relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans). But, to be honest, the best way to teach your friends is probably by example.
-Alan