Neighbours

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Everybody loves good neighbours. If you’re anything like me then that simple phrase brings to mind the theme song from the long running Australian soap opera, Neighbours. The theme finishes with the words “that’s when good neighbours become good friends”. It sounds idyllic—but who is my neighbour?

This is a question a man brings to Jesus. Jesus has just asked a person what they think the bible says about how we should live. The answer is essentially ‘love God and love your neighbour’. Jesus says this is correct, and the person goes on to ask “and who is my neighbour?” (Luke 10:29). Jesus tells the parable of the ‘good Samaritan’ to make the point that the neighbour has mercy on others, even their enemies. Although this teaching of Jesus helps us understand that we ought to view everyone as our neighbour, it wasn’t a popular teaching at the time.

The Pharisees were constantly upset with the kinds of people Jesus associated with, grumbling that he ate with the tax-collectors and prostitutes. They didn’t want him spending his time with them, because they weren’t like the Pharisees. You can almost picture their angst “we can’t sit next to these people in the synagogue, they aren’t like us, they won’t fit in”. The Pharisees would have preferred a message that was just for them, and perhaps had the opinion that the kingdom of God was only for those who would conform to their preferences, and their ways.

But Jesus sees the kingdom as being open to all. A Gentile lady comes to Jesus and asks him to heal her daughter. Jesus tests her by suggesting that God’s mercy is only for the few, but the ladies answer suggests she sees the bigger picture—surely grace and mercy can be for all the world? Her faith is displayed. In Acts the apostle Peter is given a vision of food that he would have considered religiously unacceptable to eat. Three times God tells him to eat it, and then a knock at the door and a theological conundrum for Peter—there is a Gentile wanting to see him! Peter comprehends that the message of Jesus is for the nations, and makes his point to all the believers—what God has called clean, let no one call unclean.

Paul is commissioned as the apostle to the Gentiles (everyone who isn’t a Jew), but sees an important part of his ministry as also speaking to the Jews. While in the city of Corinth he is given such a hard time by those ‘insiders’ that God sends him a message not to be afraid of the opposition, but to keep on speaking. He spends another year and a half in that city proclaiming Jesus.

We’ve been looking at the letter to the Philippians, and in the letter we have noticed several themes that help us frame up this conversation about neighbours. Paul talks of a partnership in the gospel and the Philippians willingness to work together towards spreading the good news. This involves them putting off their own preferences in order to follow the example of Jesus, who sought not his own power or position, but rather the good of others. We too ought therefore to put off our preferences, and follow the example of those like Epaphroditus, looking to the interests of others. And where the gospel is proclaimed, that is what is important—it isn’t about it being done according to personal preference or for personal position, it is far more important that people hear about Jesus.

So who is my neighbour? And why does it matter? Back in Luke 10 Jesus asks the one listening to the story “which of these three was a neighbour?”, to which the answer comes “the one who showed mercy”. But Jesus doesn't leave it there, he issues a command, “go and do likewise”.

​In a world that is in desperate need for good news, our motive ought to be Christ’s love for the world, and as we share his mercy with those who need to hear it, we remember that our neighbours aren’t those who are just like us. In fact, it might be best to see our neighbour as the one most unlike ourselves, and then think about how we can share God’s mercy in Jesus, with the goal of being partners in the gospel.

In Christ’s Love,

Craig Olliffe, Senior minister