Who Is Our Neighbor?
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Main question
Has God called the church to fix the world in order to make the world THE BEST place– God’s Kingdom?
Focus for this week
Taking a look at passages and examples in the Bible that may argue that we should love everyone everywhere.
Last week, we talked about how a great deal of "love" references in the New Testament are in reference to members of God's Kingdom -- Christians. But surely God want's us to "love" everyone everywhere...right? In this study, we will take a look at several examples found in the New Testament and determine 1) who that passage is referring too and 2) How we are to interact with the person or group that is being referenced.
BEFORE YOU START
If you have not yet listened to last week's study, take the time to do so now. Today's lesson builds heavily off of last week's principles.
Counterpoints
1) What about “loving your neighbor as yourself? Surely, "neighbor" means "Everyone everywhere...right?" (Romans 13:8-10; Mark 12:30-31; Matt 22:37-39; Gal 5:14; James 2:8)
- Where do you think Jesus and the Gospel authors got the phrase, "Love your neighbor as yourself?"
Take a look at Lev. 19:2, 17-18.
- To whom was Levi. 19:2, 17-18 written to and for?
- Was Israel instructed to practice these principles towards Edom, Moab, Ammon, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and others? Or were they instructed to practice these principles towards fellow Israelites?
2) What about “Well ‘neighbor’ can still imply our neighboring countries or people across the street right?” (Lev 19: 17)
For us today, perhaps. But for Israel, such an interpretation would have been impossible. We must first consider the passages original context.
3) What about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37? Surely Neighbor means everyone right?
- To what people group did the Samaritans belong?
- Who is the subject and who is the object of Jesus' Parable? (Who did the actions[subject] and who received the actions[object]?)
Notice, the expert in the law is asking "Who is MY neighbor?" Jesus answers with a question "Who acted kindly to the man who was beaten?" The expert in the law replies "The Samaritan man." To which Jesus essentially says "There is your answer... your neighbor, oh expert in the law, is the Samaritan man.
4) What about “love your enemy as yourself” in Matthew 5:43-48? Enemy always means people outside of the Kingdom right?
5) What about Romans 12:20-21, about feeding your enemies?
Notice how "love" is not used in this passage.
- Consider what words are used.
Take a look at Exodus 23:4-5 and notice who one's "enemy" is within the context of the law code of Exodus.
6) Well how are we supposed to interact with non-believers?
Look at the specific words used of non-believers vs believers in the following passages
Romans 12:17
Romans 12:21; Gal. 6:10; 1 Thess. 5:15
Col. 4:5-6
1 Thess. 4:11
1 Thess. 4:12
Titus 3:2
1 Peter 2:13, 17
Notice how "love" language is strikingly absent from these passages with reference to non-believers.
7) What about “the least of these?” Surely the "least of these" is a reference to poor people everywhere right?
Read Matthew 25:40
Notice the phrase "Who are members of my family" referring to people within the Kingdom.
8) What about the “widows and the orphans.” Surely this is a reference to all widows and orphans all across the world right?
Read James 1:26-27
Consider who the subjects are in James 1:9-10, 2:1-9, and 2:14-17.
9) What about the “poor and oppressed?” What about Mary’s Magnificat or the song of Zechariah in Luke 1?
Consider this...
It feels wrong that the New Testament strictly talks about love and service being exclusively reserved for fellow believers. It's embarrassing! You may be thinking "That's not what I want my Bible to say!" If God cares so much about the world, why doesn't He want us to fix all of the world's problems? Why not love and help everyone everywhere?
It's surprising to see how the theme of our relationship with non-believers is such a minor theme within the New Testament. It's even completely missing from many of them.
The New Testament seems primarily focused on teaching believers how believers ought to relate to other fellow believers. It is through our love to one another that we show the world what life under God's good rule can look like. It is through our intentional love towards the Body of Christ that we live God's mission for His people.
Take away...
As you consider this perspective remember this:
We are NOT called to ignore the world, but we are called to prioritize the people who belong to Christ
We must remember not to isolate ourselves from those who do not know Jesus.
How is the Holy Spirit pulling you to consider this new perspective?
How does this perspective make you feel both personally and in your own faith walk?
What is God asking you to do after hearing this lesson?
What are some tangible, practical things you can do to start living these principles out?
Copyright © 2016 John Nugent. All rights reserved. All credit for this material belongs to Dr. John Nugent at Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing, Michigan.
Nugent, John C. Endangered Gospel: How Fixing the World is Killing the Church. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books, 2016.