As I briefly stated in the previous entry, one of my hopes for the trip is to simply create friendships. I believe when friendships emerge across hostile boundaries, like the current boundaries between the American church and Muslims, the kingdom of God is present, however hidden. Even if not a single person “accepts the gospel,” I hope I can look back and consider the trip worthwhile if I am a good neighbor, a smiling face next door. It may seem a small and insignificant gesture in the face of such a large, complex issue, but I believe the kingdom is built with small, seemingly insignificant gestures.
One passage which I have studied in preparation for my trip and which has influenced this desire is the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10). In response to the question “Who is my neighbor?,” Jesus flips the question around through a beautiful story of mercy, asking in effect, “To whom are you a neighbor?” Rather than looking for boundaries, Jesus calls the would-be-disciple to look for opportunities.
I came across a wonderfully insightful comment on this passage in Augustine’s On Christian Doctrine. Augustine reminds his readers that “Nobody can be a neighbor except to a neighbor…. Thus we should understand that he is our neighbor to whom the office of mercy should be shown if he needs it… and that he is our neighbor who in turn shows this office to us.” Perhaps this is why Jesus’ story depicts a Samaritan showing mercy to a Jew, when a Jew had asked Him the question.
It has been suggested to me that I should pray that any new Muslim friends of mine would have crises that might lead them to seek my counsel. Besides being a rather morbid prayer request, it also seems a little one-sided. Couldn’t a crisis of mine be equally an opportunity for mercy to be shown and friendships deepened? Couldn’t a crisis of mine just as easily lead to a conversation about who Jesus is? Does Jesus really need me to be in a position of power to make Himself known through me? If He does, I hate to break it to Him, but He should have paid closer attention to who I am and where He was sending me.
I have heard a story of missionaries who struggled to connect with their new neighbors overseas. These missionaries had a child, and their position of vulnerability raising a baby in a foreign land broke down those walls. They found once distant neighbors suddenly warm, offering support through small acts of care for the young family’s well-being. I don’t think it’s quite appropriate to pray for myself or anyone else to have a crisis, but I do pray for relationships filled with mercy when crises inevitably happen.
Prayer Request: I will be flying out in a week or so – yikes.