The Good Samaritan had the wrong theology but the right relationship with God. He showed mercy to the one marginalized by the religiously correct. He acted out of compassion, asking nothing in return. Jesus told the expert in theology to “now go and do the same.”
Who do we marginalize and walk past in order to preserve our correct theology?
When you’re faced with a decision about serving someone who other Christians might reject, is it more important to you to keep the Christians in your life happy with you or to minister to people on the margins? Be honest…
Luke 10:25-37 (New Living Translation)
The Most Important Commandment
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Parable of the Good Samaritan
30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
Just to be clear:
The question in the title isn’t meant to imply that all religions are the same. By “religion” I mean thinking that you have all the “correct” theological answers and opinions about Christianity and believing that your particular theology is more important than your relationship with God and that your particular interpretation of the Bible is more important than the Bible itself.