Who is my neighbor?

It’s easy to get bogged down in the semantics, right? Which is why the question resonates with me even when I know it was an “expert in the law” who, “wanting to vindicate himself,”  asked it of Jesus in the 10^th chapter of Luke.

Those who follow in the way of Jesus are called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. The expert went to the heart of the matter with “Who is my neighbor?”

Please know that I take the expansive view on that question. I cannot imagine Jesus listing anyone as not my neighbor!  Hence my passion for global, local, justice, inclusion ministry expressions of our faith.

Jesus, however, does give an answer by telling a story about a man beaten and left on the other side of the road, some folks who looked the other way, and a Samaritan we now know as good. Jesus answers the question with a question “Which of the three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of trouble?”

Last weekend 16 of our neighbor families were displaced, many losing all their possessions, by a three alarm fire … at Asherton Apartments … literally on the other side of the street from our church. Thankfully no one was hurt, neighbors or firefighters from 9 precincts, but our neighbors’ needs are real right now.

Our local mission partner One Dublin has created a separate fund to assist them. Executive Director Brian Carr is connecting with the property manager and residents, and will coordinate how best to use these funds and distribute them equally among the families. Funds will be distributed to the families in the form of gift cards to stores like Kroger and Wal-Mart or as needed/requested by the families,

Since the need is urgent, we ask that you donate directly to this One Dublin fund.

Pastor Jim Wilson