On one occasion, a social media influencer was down from London with her friends and whilst on social media to her followers, she stopped outside of a church in Whitstable and whilst live on her social media, said to the local Minister, “What must I do to get into heaven?”
The Minister said, “What do you remember from your Sunday school?” The social media influencer said, “Love God with everything you’ve got and love your neighbour as yourself”
The Minister replied, “That is correct so go and do this.”
The social media influencer wanted to justify herself in front of her friends and on-line followers and said “So who is my neighbour?”
The Minister told her a story:
“A man was walking along the sea front of Whitstable enjoying the sunset when he was attacked and beaten up by some strangers – they took his iPhone, watch, wallet, jacket and expensive trainers and left him bleeding, semi-conscious and looking like a homeless person.
A famous media influencer happened to be walking down the same stretch of the sea front, and when she saw the man, she passed by on the other side of the path not wanting to get involved.
So too, a local Ward councillor, when he came to the place and saw him, thinking he was a drunk and a smelly homeless vagrant passed by on the other side.
But a homeless retired soldier, as he traveled along the beach, came where the injured man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him, cleaned up his injuries and gave him his spare jacket and trainers from his rucksack.
Then he helped the man to a local air BnB and took care of him overnight. The next day he left but said to the owner of the BnB, here is some money to look after hime and to contact his family. He said “if it is anymore, I will be back later on and I will settle up with you”.
The Minister asked the social media celebrity “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who was mugged?”
The social media celebrity replied, “The one who helped him.” The Minister told her, “Go and do likewise.”
You may have recognised this as a modern adapted version of the parable of the Good Samaritan in the Gospel of Luke [10: 25-28] so here is the original.
“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
In reply Jesus said:
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
So the ancient story is as true and relevant today as when Jesus told it almost 2000 years ago which is a long time ago. That is why it is so important to read and understand the bible.
If you don’t understand bits of the bible and being very honest with you
**but don’t tell anyone**
there are some bits I do not fully understand, so I ask my church leader or other Christian friends to help me.
So what is this story all about?
For me it speaks of:
Not being too busy to help others. We all can think of a reason or excuse why we are too busy – so think about how busy you really are when at home [at work or out and about ADD] (with mum & dad when they ask you to do a job or at school or in clubs REMOVE) when someone is being picked on, excluded, harassed, bullied or worse.
Not judging or ignoring people or situations or choosing who you help. By judging or ignoring that’s the easy way out. Jesus in his ministry never chose the easy or simple way because he wanted to give us examples and directions to follow in our walk with him.
Jesus in his story also chose the Samaritan because the Jewish community did not like Samaritans and this was a deliberate decision to challenge the Expert in the Law and his conscience. This was about getting involved whoever and wherever you are.
It also shows that Jesus can use anyone, if they are willing to get involved. God has a purpose and a design for everyone.
To show mercy and kindness is the right thing to do, it can be costly but this does not always have to be financial but can be in taking time to listen, care and help people.
Sometimes you actually have to do something. Prayer is great but prayer and action together is much more powerful! Prayer is great but prayer and action together is much more powerful!
Street Pastors (SP) are Believers in Christ and we are called to “Listen, Care and Help” people no matter the persons situation or circumstance.
SP don‘t judge people by the way they look, dress, behave, smell, talk, their colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation etc.
SP are a visible demonstration of Gods unconditional love in action.
I hope one day you meet a SP out and about and you chat to us as you never know, you may be a SP in the making or are part of Gods plan and design.
In His Service
Mark Arnold
Whitstable Street Pastor Coordinator
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