Won't You Be My Neighbor?

I am convinced that the primary reason why the Church struggles with evangelism is not because we don't care about people...it is just that we don't know how to care about people in practical ways that make a real difference.

We are so theologized and sermonized that we have taken leave of our senses and forgotten what it takes to be human in the best way imaginable. Caring for others is not hard intellectually and strategically yet it is costly and at times can be quite inconvenient. Most of the time, it really isn't even that hard, though.

Listen, love, learn from another. Lend a hand. Share a loaf. Really, come on...this does not take a Ph.D in the Bible. Knowing the right answer can be a serious deficit spiritually if we do not do the right answer. Who is worse...the Pagan who does not know the Word and acts like He does not know it OR the religious type who does know the Word but does not do it? This is not a rhetorical question. It is quite serious.

Last night our neighbor rounded up those close by in our little circle of a road (really a semi-circle) and we hung out with each other. Some were card carrying Church members. Some hadn't been to Church in years. We had food (German) , we had drink (some fine beer), and we talked about our lives. Not exactly suffering for Jesus.

All of us are at different points in the faith walk.

To be entirely forthright, I was not going to go but then thought it pretty pathetic if I were a no-show. At the end of the evening, the Mr. Rogers-like organizing force, shared the following Scripture from Acts:

"And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, (ASV)."

He had a hipper version, I think it was The Message. Here's my take and translation. "Daily, they went to Church together, and then went to someone's home happily, ate some good food, and chilled joyfully."

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