“Do This and You Will Live” (Luke 10:25-37)

Autopsy of a Deceased Church

Currently, I am reading a very interesting book called “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” written by Thom Rainer. Thom Rainer is an author and the president of Lifeway Christian Resources. He takes us through the results of fourteen church autopsies. Each of the churches was once alive, but now is dead. The churches are diverse in their denominational backgrounds, in their locations, and in their local and regional demographics. According to his research, as many as 100,000 churches in America are showing signs of decline toward death. The other day I had an Outreach Committee meeting, and in the meeting I asked the following question to each of the members: “If our church was given a “physical exam” today, what do you think the doctor’s diagnosis would be: healthy, slightly sick, very sick, or dying? Why?” Two of them said “slightly sick,” another said, “sick,” and the last person said, “very sick.” If you are asked the same question, what would be your answer? As a pastor, it is painful to hear that the church is sick or dying. In the book Thom says that the problems of the deceased churches were obvious but the solutions were difficult. But we have hope as long as we have the courage to face our reality and move forward in the directions God desires. Particularly today’s scripture offers significant insight into the secret of a vibrant church and fuller life that Jesus promises.

Our Question: “Who Is My Neighbor?” (v. 29)

In today’s passage, the lawyer’s key question is “Who is MY neighbor?” He had good knowledge of the Scripture. When Jesus asked him “What is written in the Law?” he exactly knew the right answer. Immediately, he replied, “Love the Lord your God and Love your neighbor as yourself.” Probably, he would also observe all other religious practices, such as fasting twice a week and giving a tenth of the income. He thought, ‘I love God and I love my neighbor.’ He wanted to show off. He wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “Who is MY neighbor?” In other words, “Teacher, I am doing enough. Who else should I help?” We ask Jesus the same question, “Who is my neighbor?” “Lord, I have my own fish to fry. My church has own fish to fry. We are doing enough. What else should we do?” About two years ago I attended Korean UMC pastor’s Annual Conference. There, I had a chance to hear one pastor’s testimony. She is a great pastor, but, at first, she had a very tough time in her ministry. For a long time, she didn’t know what the problem was. But later, she realized the reason why she had suffered was from a strong “self-centered” faith. Deep in her heart, there was no one other than “My God and I.” It was always “My God and I,” “My God and My family,” and “My God and My church.” But, God opened her eyes to see that the Bible always says, “God and his people,” rather than “My God and I.” She realized that God is not just her God, but the God of all nations, and he loves all his people. When she truly realized this truth, her ministry changed 180 degrees.

Jesus’ Question: “Who Is a Good Neighbor?” (v. 36)

Our question is always “Who is My Neighbor?” But, Jesus’ key question is always “Who is a good neighbor to the person in need?” He is asking each of us, “Are you a good neighbor to those in need?” He is asking our church, “Are you a good neighbor to your needy community?” Once I heard an interesting story about one seminary professor. He teaches a preaching class. One semester he had all his students preach on the same passage; the parable of the Good Samaritan. On purpose he put one man clothed in rags in front of the building. Most of the students just passed by that person, went to class to preach their sermons they had prepared, and went back home. They were too busy with preparing the sermon to help others. They had bigger fish to fry.

Who is a Samaritan?

In the parable, who is a good neighbor to the man in need? A Samaritan. Who are the Samaritans? They are the descendents of northern kingdom of Israel. When the kingdom of northern Israel collapsed, they had to be transported and get married with the Assyrians by force. They lost their pure blood and pure religious traditions. So, from the point of view of the Southern Jewish, the Samaritans were gentiles and heretics. Jews never associated with the Samaritans and looked down on them. The Samaritans were the marginalized. In the parable, each of the characters has his own excuse. Both a priest and a Levite might justify themselves based on God’s law: “If anyone touches a corpse or a grave, that person will be unclean for seven days” (Num 19:16). So they might say, “I don’t want to be unclean before service.” Or they might say, “I don’t want to be involved in it. I am doing enough.” If they have excuses, a Samaritan has more. He was a marginalized person. He was the enemy of the Jews. Although he passed by the Jews attacked by robbers, no one would blame him. But, he had compassion on him. He stopped and helped him at his own risk. I want to draw your attention to what Jesus says in verse 28 and 37: “Go and do the same and you will live.” This word of Jesus is an answer to our question: “Can our church live?” Our church has our own fish to fry. Our church might be a marginalized church in some sense. It might be unprepared financially or spiritually to reach out to the local community, let alone do global missions. But, Jesus says to our church today: “Do this and you will live!” “Do missions, reach out to the community and to the ends of the earth, and your church will live!” We do missions, not because we can afford to do it, but because this is the only way our church will live. In some sense, we are the marginalized: Some of us are students, some are senior citizens, some are unemployed, and we may feel that we’ve got enough problems of ours, so we can’t afford to do missions. But still, Jesus says to us, “Do this and you will live!”

Common Sense vs. Faith

The kingdom of God is not a welfare state, nor a democratic state. Our government says that the qualified marginalized people may receive a tax exemption. But, God says, “No one is to appear before me empty-handed.” (Ex 23:15; 34:20) He tells us to bring him a lamb or goat. If a person cannot afford a lamb, they must bring two doves or two young pigeons. If they cannot afford to bring them, they are to bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour (Lev 5:6-11). Why does God require sacrifices and offerings even to the poor, to the marginalized? This is not a religious obligation. But, it is God’s invitation to a richer and fuller life. When we live a life for ourselves, we are the one who is responsible for our life. But, when we live a life for God, it is God who will take care of us. There was a widow in Zarephath. She was very poor. She was gathering a few sticks to take home. She made a plan to make the last meal for herself and her son before she died. God did know it. So did Elijah. But the Lord said to her through Elijah, “Go home and first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have, and then make something for yourself and your son.” And by faith she obeyed. Just as the Lord promised thorough Elijah, there was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers. We have a choice. We may choose to say, “I have my own fish to fry.” But also, we may choose to say, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets. Because you say so, I will do it!”

  

Yes, You!

In your personal or family life you may be going through challenging times. For sure we as a church are facing new challenges ahead of us. We’ve lost several pillars of the church. Many of our devoted church members are aging and the younger generations do not replace them. And our community changes rapidly. Yes, it is a time of crisis for the church, but at the same time, it is a time of golden opportunities. I believe it is God’s wake-up call for us. Jesus promised to his disciples, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!” (Matt 16:18) God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His church is the same yesterday, today, and forever. As long as we love the Lord with all our hearts and love our neighbor, help the poor, and reach out to our community, our life and our church will be prosperous and never die. Still you might say, “Who me? Please send someone else to do it” just like Moses. But God says, "Yes, you – unlikely you, unprepared you, inexperienced you, uneducated you, teenage you, senior citizen you, housewife you, college student you, recovering addict you, dysfunctional family you!” He says to each of us today, “Go and do the same and you will live!” Amen.