The Loving Heretic

Recently I have read the parable of the "Good Samaritan" with a fresh pair of eyes. First of all, if you were to use the phrase "Good Samaritan" in the times that Jesus told it, they probably would have run you out of the city with torch and pitchfork. So, I thought I would entitle this blog "The Loving Heretic" because it is the equivalent in today's church standards.

All of my life I was raised with the mentality of needing to have the correct theology in order to be in favor with God. It was pounded into my head on many sides. I had to believe the right things about the Bible and about Jesus or I wouldn't make it into Heaven. It turns out that I spent my entire life focused on it. It also turns out that I neglected the most important "theology" in the Bible "Love the Lord your God...etc..." and "Love your neighbor as yourself."

When Jesus walked the earth He didn't seem to be too concerned with theological arguments. In fact, usually, He sidestepped them unless they were directly about Himself. Most of his teachings and ministry were about loving and how to love. He seemed to have the most criticism towards people who had it together theologically speaking. And he seemed to have more compassion and empathy towards the common lay person who didn't.

If one understands what place a Samaritan played in the Jewish culture of Jesus' day, the parable carries a lot more weight and stings the ears of those who heard it. Samaritans and Jews were sworn enemies. If they saw each other on the streets, chances are, a fight would break out. In fact, Jews would take the long way around to get home and avoid Samaria. I wont bore you with the details of Samaritan/Jewish history, but I recommend looking into it.

Suffice it to say, dear reader, that the Samaritan was today's Muslim. They were the enemy. They were the heretics. They were the ones constantly at odds with the Jews over the Promised Land.

Jesus parable suddenly carries a bit more weight in this light. He was plainly stating that the Samaritan who loves is far closer to the heart of God than the Jew who adhered to the traditions and were theologically correct. Two characters in the story were widely accepted by Jews, yet they didn't lift a finger to help the robbery victim. The "enemy" in the ideals of the day was the hero. He was the one who lived out the heart of God in loving, no matter what the cost.

In those days, for a Samaritan to associate with a Jew meant cultural suicide on both ends. No wonder Jesus got some odd looks when He spoke with the Samaritan woman. In fact, during His ministry, one of Jesus disciples suggested that He call down fire from heaven and torch the Samaritans for good. Even his own disciples missed the heart of who He was and why He came!

I catch myself even now worrying about people being theologically correct and such and not focusing on their love. Just recently I remember scrutinizing an IC church website, critiquing their "theology". I busted myself and rebuked myself and had to remind myself what was really important. Jesus plainly stated many times that to love others IS doing the will of God. To believe in Him as Gods love to man and to give to each other that same expression of love is, in essence, "Christian".

I like to point out that Jesus wasn't a Christian. Jesus wasn't even a Jew. In essence, Jesus was simply God in love with people, and He made it a point to make that clear not only in His death and resurrection, but in His entire life of ministry and teaching.

I find it interesting that Jesus pointed out that the tax collectors, prostitutes, and pagans were closer to the Kingdom of Heaven than the Pharisees and the Jewish leaders (those who were theologically correct.) In fact, He accused the Pharisees of not only refusing to enter the Kingdom of Heaven themselves, but blocking the gate so others couldn't enter.

So how does this translate into today's language? The Muslim, homosexual, prostitute, Democrat, IRS agent (chuckle), Feminist, and such today who live out the message of love that Jesus taught are closer to the Kingdom of Heaven than those who are theologically correct as they teach Bible verses and well-orated sermons such as Pat Robertson, John Hagee, and such.

Now, for my readers who are theologically correct and are ready to hang me as a heretic, this isn't to say that I am a Universalist. I do acknowledge (as even Jesus taught) that there are some who will not enter Heaven. Neither am I stating that doing good things gets one into Heaven. Of course we as Christians know that it is through identifying in and partaking of Christ's life, death, and resurrection that we are able to approach Father for relationship. There, for my theologically correct readers, I bought your favor with being theologically correct in the last paragraph.

But I will say that if the heretics aren't getting into the Kingdom of Heaven, most assuredly those who are theologically correct and refuse to love wont either, for the heretic who loves is ahead of the other in line.