Is it good to be a ‘good Samaritan’?

Doing good for others is a way of life which Jesus lived, and encouraged in his followers (Mathew 25:40). The well known parable of the Good Samaritan applauds kindness towards our ‘neighbours’, which includes people we don’t know. The Bible teaches that Christians should bring the kindness that Jesus demonstrated towards us to everyone that we interact with. But is this the way we live?

Research reveals that Australians are not only willing to help strangers in need, but acts of kindness far outnumber acts of violence. For every act of violence to a stranger, there are 38 acts of kindness towards fellow Australians. 86% of Australians say they have helped a stranger in need, while 27% or 4.68 million say they show kindness every day and a further 29%, several times a week. That’s more than the population of Sydney! The most common acts of kindness are: help with shopping, help in an emergency, helping a stranger to gain access or mobility, comforting a stranger, and help with money. We even help those who don’t need help! 61.5% Australians say they have done something nice for a stranger “just for the sake of being kind” – not because they were in any obvious need. Most of these (90%) said they would look to doing something nice for a stranger in no particular need in the future.*

Jesus held nothing back, not even himself, which he gave for our freedom on the cross. Mark 10:45 says “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus tells his followers that : ‘… whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:40. Paul goes so far as to say, ‘the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love’ – Galatians 5:6 This is an emphatic statement, which shows the importance that God places on the way that we live out the love that he so generously gave to us. If Christians seek to be like Jesus, then these verses challenges us that even people that we see as ‘the least’ are valuable in Gods sight and should be treated well.

Do we seek to ‘do good’ as the good Samaritan did?

That’s what I’ve been thinking about. What do you think?

* McCrindle Research Pty Ltd, The Heart of Australia, p10

Can we just be ‘Sunday’ Christians?

Is being a Christian primarily about getting to church every Sunday?

In the Old Testament, it’s clear that God doesn’t want a one-off or outward sacrifice from his people; rather, he wants hearts and lives. They are told to love the Lord their God with their whole being – their hearts, souls and strength. They are to talk about God’s ways at home and when they are moving around during the day; when they go to bed, and when they get up. Being God’s person was meant to be a whole of life commitment (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

God renounces those who come near to him outwardly, but in their hearts are far from Him, and their worship of Him is made up only of rules taught by men (Isaiah 29:13).

Jesus also teaches that God’s people should love God with everything you have; heart, soul, mind and strength, and this includes loving your neighbour (Luke 10:27). The apostle Paul urges Christians to offer up their whole lives to God as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) and to let every detail in their lives – words, actions, whatever – be done in the name of Jesus, thanking God at all times (Colossians 3:17).

That’s what I’ve been thinking. What do you think – is getting to church every Sunday the main part of being a Christian?

To make a comment, click the speech bubble to the right of the title of the post (above) or leave a comment below.

Input – what we’re taking in

New ‘toys’ are great, aren’t they?

Having recently acquired an iPad, I know how much I enjoy experiencing the joys of new technology.

Australians have always been amongst the earliest adopters of new technology and this characteristic continues. Recent research* has shown that 3 in 4 households with under 18s have mp3 players (72.1%) and more than half (58.1%) have wireless internet in their home, allowing the internet to easily be accessed from multiple entertainment devices concurrently. More than one third (34.9%) have Pay TV, which no doubt adds to the almost 3 hour TV viewing average of Australians. The iPhone and iTouch are now in almost 1 in 4 Australian households with under 18s (24.4%). Digital radio, the newest technological format of entertainment has already found a place in more than 1 in 10 households (11%).

We are continually bombarded with images, music and movies from a wide variety of sources.

We know the things we watch and listen to can impact us. In many instances in the Bible we see people who limit the things they see to keep themselves holy. For example King David in Psalm 101:3 states ‘I will set before my eyes no vile thing.’ Job, a man who overcame great hardship through trusting in God said ‘I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.’ (Job 31:1) It’s clear Job realised the affect the things we see can have on the things we do.

Paul instructs Christians to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). In Romans 12:2 he says ‘do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.’

We are called to live, not as a result of our culture, or standards created by the people around us, but based on the way that God wants us to. By immersing ourselves in God’s Word we can learn what this looks likes and find a good pattern to base our lives on.

That’s what’s on my mind.

What do you think?

To make a comment, click the speech bubble to the right of the title of the post (above).

*McCrindle Research Pty Ltd, The Heart of Australia, p 27