10 things they never told me about Jesus|| Talking to Strangers

One of my favorite people in the world is one who LOVES stories. She always wants to know where people came from and how they got here and what they do... Always curious. She is just incredibly interested in people and these kinds of conversations come naturally to her. Well, this is the kind of thing Bell is talking about... talking to strangers. Jesus was constantly engaged with people who didn't share his nationality, faith or culture. It is certainly Jesus-like when you can converse with someone just for the heck of it.

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I think it is about ridding yourself of pride and selfishness and realizing that God loves everyone and because of that, we should be able to be in conversation with everyone. Israelites had it rough whenever they got on their high horse about being the "chosen" people. They thought it gave them room to be hateful to others who were not the "chosen" people. Even when it came to interracial marriages. We know they were looked down upon way back when, but remember our conversation about Jesus' genealogy? We are reminded in that, that the four women mentioned were not Israelites. Jesus comes from what was considered a flawed genealogy. For that matter, we all come from "flawed" genealogies and for that we should respect one another because none of us are chosen. (Here is where we could enter into a conversation about liberation theology, but I think we'll save that for another day.)

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Jesus isn't speaking broadly when he calls for people to get along and "go... to all nations" (Matt. 28). He is specific. For example, the Samaritans are particularly special to Jesus. Not only does he use them in one of his most beloved parable but he also has the longest recorded exchange with a Samaritan woman as well. He does not let the cultural and religious walls get in the way of making conversation with her or about them. Then there was the woman at the well (who we also discussed in a previous blog) who became the first evangelist. However, Bell says, her "success in not in converting others but in leading them to Jesus who enables conversion within them" (88). Jesus, through his friendly conversation and charming skills is able to bring conversion to people.

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The trick to Jesus' story about the Samaritan is not that we should be like the Samaritan and be nice for the question was asking "who is my neighbor?" Your neighbor is the Samaritan. Your neighbor is "the person, irrespective of their race [or religion], who does good to others" (92). Well that surely opens up the spectrum, huh? Our society is increasingly multicultural. This means when people of different faiths or different nationalities do good for society, they too are our neighbors. We are linked in our common bond to do good. Jesus came to "recognize and to indicate that God was the ground of all goodness, the quality of which manifests in people of all religions and of none" (93).

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Be challenged.

Do Good.

Appreciate the good of others.

Accept others.

Love others.