THE CHURCH IN A CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY (22)

 WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?

Some months ago, during the presidential elections in Nigeria, there was a clamour among the Christian community for a Christian to rule Nigeria again, especially in light of the Muslim-Muslim tickets projected by the ruling party. A message from a Christian cleric went viral online, sharing his experience with both Muslim and Christian brethren. He was sent on a mission to another state in Nigeria for a pastoral assignment. One night, while still on his way, he joyfully approached a Christian church with a mission house. He introduced himself to the pastor in charge and expressed his desire to spend the night there. However, he overheard a heated argument between the pastor and his wife, who contended that she could not accept any stranger into the pastorium. Meanwhile, the cleric softly requested to spend the night in the church auditorium, but he was denied. His next point of call was a mosque, where he was gladly accepted and offered dinner. He slept joyfully and left early without any issues. He then posed a question to us: WHO IS A BELIEVER BETWEEN THESE PEOPLE? The pastor and his wife, or the Muslim brothers?

We live in a contentious world where simply bearing a Christian name or attending a certain Christian gathering automatically confers the title of a Christian.

The question of who my neighbour is was asked by Jesus in Luke 10:29-37. Jesus told a story about a certain man (possibly a believer or Jew) who had three friends:

1. A Priest (a believer and preacher)

2. A Levite (a member of God's household, a staunch believer)

3. A Samaritan (an unbeliever, possibly condemned to eternal damnation)

It happened that this certain man, who was a believer, was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when he unknowingly fell into the hands of robbers who stripped and beat him, leaving him half dead. Fortunately, the first man to see him after this incident was the preacher, probably his church pastor. I can imagine the victim muttering the name of his pastor and calling for help. But when the priest saw him, he passed by on the other side, loudly telling himself, "I have preached many times against brethren traveling on the Sabbath, warning them of God's punishment, even death. Oh, this is Brother James, who would not attend weekly services and pay his tithe regularly. Now, God has caught up with him. I cannot help a man being punished by God." He had every reason to turn to the other side of the road and go quietly to the church to use Brother James as an example of someone who disobeyed God and suffered the consequences.

As it would happen, the Levite came to the scene, and I can imagine Brother James was happy to see him and, in pain, beckoned for his help. It seemed that this brother (the Levite) knew which side his pastor had taken; he too passed by on the other side, muttering to himself, "This is a brother who is too full of himself. He is too spiritual and counts everything as sin. Now, why would God help him if he was indeed holy and righteous?"

Then came the last man standing, a Samaritan—an unbeliever, a herbalist, someone considered unworthy to live among us. If it were possible, we should have nothing to do with him; he was seriously stinking with sins and on the verge of perishing. Yet, when this man saw the half-dead brother, he looked at him and had compassion. He was not a Christian brother, but he embodied the virtue of the eternal: COMPASSION. He would not allow this man to die on the roadside. He took him, cleaned his wounds, and bandaged them with precious oil. He brought him home for further care and paid the bill.

Who is my neighbour? The one who has mercy on him.

I was told recently that the richest man in Africa, who happened to be a Muslim, was prayed for by the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa. This man offered his seat on an airplane to Archbishop Idahosa when he discovered that the pastor needed to meet a preaching appointment. The archbishop prayed for him for this heroic act, and what happened next was greater riches.

I also heard of another Muslim man who attended a Christian gathering, heard of the church's needs, and promised to cover them all. The pastor called him and prayed with him, and what happened next was that he became the president of his nation. Amazing things are happening these days!

Today, we have brethren who are interested in your testimonies but never share in your trials. They desire your money but are not interested in your miseries. They can share in your happiness but will turn away when you're facing challenges. Most brothers sit on the judgment throne and refuse to look at the mercy seat. Some victims of this irreverent treatment, in their ignorance, have left the church upon witnessing the hypocrisy of their brethren.

Some years ago, I experienced a fire incident that consumed everything I had laboured for over the years. One of the first people who brought us clothes and other items was a Muslim cleric. He spent time and days with us, encouraging us to be strong. I knew the stance of my brethren; I knew what they were saying. Sincerely, only a few summoned the courage to give us gifts. We were so disappointed that we considered severing our relationships with anyone called a brother until God began to deal with us.

A friend of mine working at a university was set up by other lecturers, many of whom were pastors and general overseers in the church. The Muslim brethren working on campus, both academic and non-academic staff, stood behind my friend and fought for him. What a shame!

Time and again, we learn that our neighbours are not necessarily those hypocritical brothers and sisters who dance around our successes and beautiful testimonies but leave us when we fall into sin or face life's challenges.

Job's enemies during his trials were his best friends (the brethren) whom Job had, at one time or another, helped greatly. They condemned Job to eternal damnation. Their response to Job's trial was:

“Consider now, I plead: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Or where have the upright been destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same. By the breath of God, they perish, and by the blast of His anger, they are consumed.” (Job 4:7-9)

“Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.” (Job 8:20)

“If you put away the iniquity in your hand and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents, then indeed you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and unafraid. For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by. Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.” (Job 11:14-17)

None of them could reason that Job's ordeal was a trial from God. They all came with condemning messages. Job's simple response to them was: “You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.” (Job 13:4)

Brothers and sisters, it is high time we recognized that our neighbours extend beyond the simple congregation you attend. They exist outside the judgment-ridden Christian friends you have. Your neighbours are everywhere; they are simply people who offer you help during your times of sorrow. They are your physical comforters when the storms of life rage and threaten to knock you off balance. Don’t look down on anyone and neglect to make friends outside your cloned enclave. God has placed compassion in the hearts of men of different races, tribes, religions, and languages.

"When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, 'Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" (Matthew 8:10-12) Jesus was amazed at the level of grace the centurion carried. You may very well exclaim at some point in your life: "I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF A MAN BEFORE, NOT EVEN AMONG MY CHRISTIAN BROTHERS."

Stay blessed and be refreshed.

Judgment-ridden brothers, I pray you will repent.

Peter Abdul-Razaq OLAYINKA  

A serving missionary with Living Grace Christian Missions, Ilara.  

WhatsApp: (+229) 0194139130  

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