BELIEVING, DOING, BEING

Dr. Richard J. Henderson July 11, 2010

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Psalm 82(responsively)
Luke 10: 25-37

Introduction

A lawyer comes to Jesus with an important question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Often Jesus hinted at what we must do, sometimes he suggests what's involved, and during his life Jesus showed us examples of how we should act, but here Jesus is asked point blank, "What must I do..."

Sometimes it helps if we look not only at what Jesus said, but also at what he didn't say. Often we think we know how Jesus would respond to questions like that, but then he says something we didn't expect. Here we might expect that when Jesus was asked face-to-face about eternity he would say, "Believe and accept me as your personal savior and you will have eternal life." Is that what Jesus says?

The surprise is that Jesus says, "What is written in the law?" The lawyer answers "Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus says, you got it right, do this.

The lawyer is feeling good about getting the answer right. He smiles, turns, and is ready to walk away, but then he stops. "Wait. Who's my neighbor?" Then Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan.

I

The thing that strikes me here is that Jesus wants action. He says "Go and do" rather than "go and believe." Jesus tells the man to be active, involved, and caring. Jesus seems to care more about how the man acts than whether his theology is right. He is saying, see the extraordinary care the Samar provided? Go and do the same. Do.

Beliefs are important, of course. If we don't understand our faith or if we're not clear about what Jesus taught, then we may be doing the wrong things. Right beliefs show us how to act rightly. The problem with only having beliefs is that it might make us feel good about our faith - maybe even pious - but in reality we aren't doing anything.

We believe that no one should go hungry, but we don't feed anyone. We believe everybody should hear Jesus' good news, but we don't tell anybody. We firmly believe that God demands justice in the world, but we don't do anything to make the world more just. We can become a bundle of beliefs that never show.

The great theologian, Karl Barth, was once asked to define sin. He paused for a moment and then surprised everyone by saying, "A PhD in ethics." He meant the person who knows, studies, and believes what is right, but never does anything with that knowledge. Barth clearly understood that right thinking can be a way to avoid acting in the right ways.

Actions speak louder than words, and actions speak louder than the best of beliefs.

II

The parable that Jesus tells shows us that taking action involves risk. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho goes through some rough terrain. There are narrow passages and the road has a lot of blind spots. It's easy for thieves to hide among the rocks and then jump out to attack someone.

As the priest, Levite, and Samaritan come down that path and see the robbed man in the road, it probably occurs to them that he could be a decoy. Someone stops to help this one who appears to be robbed, and thieves jump out and attack him. There is serious risk in stopping to help the beaten man. They could be the next victim.

The priest and the Levite are both church leaders. The priest would not be allowed to touch a dead body if he were traveling to worship - it would be a violation of the ritual purity laws. But there is no indication that the robbed man in the story looks like he's dead. Besides, it would be a greater evil to fail to help someone who is in desperate need than to become ritually impure. We have to wonder if the priest and Levite acted the way they did because of fear rather than ritual purity. The law can be an excuse.

The Samaritan is the despised enemy. The Samaritan might feel like he doesn't need to stop and help. This man hates him, so why should he help him? But the Samaritan isn't afraid to take risks and reaches out to help his enemy. To love is to take risks.

III

The parable that Jesus tells shows us that taking action involves risk. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho goes through some rough terrain. There are narrow passages and the road has a lot of blind spots. It's easy for thieves to hide among the rocks and then jump out to attack someone.

As the priest, Levite, and Samaritan come down that path and see the robbed man in the road, it probably occurs to them that he could be a decoy. Someone stops to help this one who appears to be robbed, and thieves jump out and attack him. There is serious risk in stopping to help the beaten man. They could be the next victim.

The priest and the Levite are both church leaders. The priest would not be allowed to touch a dead body if he were traveling to worship - it would be a violation of the ritual purity laws. But there is no indication that the robbed man in the story looks like he's dead. Besides, it would be a greater evil to fail to help someone who is in desperate need than to become ritually impure. We have to wonder if the priest and Levite acted the way they did because of fear rather than ritual purity. The law can be an excuse.

The Samaritan is the despised enemy. The Samaritan might feel like he doesn't need to stop and help. This man hates him, so why should he help him? But the Samaritan isn't afraid to take risks and reaches out to help his enemy. To love is to take risks.

Conclusion

There are believers and there are doers. Some people concentrate on learning dogma and being sure they hold the right beliefs, but they don't do anything with their beliefs. In some ways that's easier because you can keep your beliefs pure if you don't have to deal with the realities of everyday life.

Other people are doers. They understand the basic teachings of Jesus and want to live them out. They're active, involved, and compassionate.

If we believe and act on our beliefs, and if we put that faith in practice every day, then we will become people of faith and action. In living out our faith, even in difficult situations, we become faithful disciples. It's who we are. Most of the time we won't have to think about what our response will be, it will become automatic with us. When we come to the person hurt by the side of the road, our beliefs and actions will reflect the person we are.

There are those who believe correctly. There are those who act correctly. And there are those whose very being is to trust God and live faithfully.

Amen

© Richard J. Henderson 2010