In 1836, in the plaza of a small-dilapidated Texas church one hundred and eighty men were faced with a frightening decision. Whether to stand and fight the whole of the Mexican Army, or try and either escape or surrender. Their leader was an inexperienced officer, who drew a line in the sand and said cross the line and fight or run.
Legends and some witnesses tell us only one of those men did not step over that line. This one man snuck out in the night to live another day, and faded into obscurity as the coward of the Alamo. However for the one hundred and seventy nine men who stayed, even though they all were killed in battle, they became immortalized not only in Texas, but also in America as heroes. For they were willing to stand up for what they believed in, even when the odds were so stacked against them.
In our readings for today, we see a similar line drawn in the sand. God tells Amos about drawing a line using a plumb bulb. He uses the plumb line to hold all those accountable for their actions.
So does this story relate to our Gospel reading for today? If so, how? Well the question it asks of us is, who do we count as our neighbors? Think of all those “good and devout” men that passed that man lying in the road. Why? Because he represented someone or something they did not agree with? Or was it because if they were seen helping this man, they would be scorned? Just like the coward who did not cross the line to defend the Alamo, these men refused to cross the line to help another. Even when they were commanded by God to do so.
If one were to take time to look at this story, of which we are all familiar, with we see different nuances in it. We see a story of a man in need. We see a story of other men who are so trapped by the chains of their society that they are unable to come to the aid of a fellow man.
According to William Barclay in his writings on the New Testament, he explained it this way:
There was the priest. He hastened past. No doubt he was remembering that he who touched a dead man was unclean for seven days (Num.19:11). He could not be sure but he feared that the man was dead; to touch him would mean losing his turn of duty in the Temple; and he refused to risk that. He set the claims of ceremonial above those of charity. The Temple and its liturgy meant more to him than the pain of man.
There was the Levite. He seems to have gone nearer to the man before he passed on. The bandits were in the habit of using decays. One of their number would act the part of a wounded man; and when some unsuspecting traveller stopped over him, the others would rush upon him and overpower him. The Levite was a man whose motto was, "Safety first." He would take no risks to help anyone else.
You see these men let their fears over whelm their faith. The priest was more interested in the service itself over the service for God. The Levite failed to let God lead him and protect him.
The Samaritan crossed the line in the sand. He made the step beyond religious and ethnic bigotry to help a man not of his own people. He stepped out on faith and the love of another human being.
So how about us? Do recognize the line that God draws in the sand for us? Do we boldly step across it to allow God to lead us? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zone and help people we do not know? These are the challenges and questions we as Christians face each and every day.
From the moment we proclaim ourselves as followers of Christ the line is drawn in the sand. We are taken to task in the words of Jesus found in Matthew 5: 44-48
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:44-48 NIV)
You see once we take up the call to follow Christ, we are under the call to work toward perfection in Christ as we see in Matthew 5:48. The Samaritan answered the call to love his enemy. He even provided care and support for him, while this man’s fellow people refused to do so.
For one to completely understand what kind of leap this Samaritan took, we have to put our Judeo-Christian World View aside and look at it through the eyes of a person from the Middle East.
One of the major separations between Northern European culture and that of the Middle and Far Eastern cultures is who constitutes a human being? That is the question that was at the root of the question posed by the lawyer to Jesus. “Who is my neighbor?”
It is this root question that lays at the very heart of the nations in the midst of Ethnic conflict. Whether it is in the Balkans, Iraq, Israel, or Lebanon, there is this question of who are our “real” neighbors.
Just like the Judeans and the Samaritans, both sides have dehumanized each other. People who have been neighbors for years turn on each other. The same is true at this time in history. In fact, it could be said that the lawyer who so hated the Samaritans was not even able to call them by name so that is why he answered Jesus this way "the one who showed mercy toward him."
For us growing up in a nation of Judeo-Christian values, we may not be able to grasp this totally. It is because of Jesus’ call that we help out all who are in need. We have been instilled with the idea of helping out all people no matter who they are, especially strangers in far away lands.
However, do we do enough to cross that line in our own communities? I think it is easier to look to those in need outside our communities than it is to reach those within. Why? For one they are not as personal. What do I mean by that? I mean that we are not the ones who have to get our hands dirty. We let other people, whether it is missionaries, relief volunteers, or others do the work, while we feel good about giving to their aid.
In our local communities we are the ones that are held responsible. The person or family becomes our personal responsibility. Thus we need to make ourselves available to those people in need. This is something the priest and Levite were not willing to do for man in the road. They did not want to divert from their busy lives to see to the needs of this man.
So how about our local communities? Do we do enough to be apart of our communities? At one time in Iowa, at the heart of most communities was a Methodist Church. Many towns actually sprung up around the church and the rail road station. Towns and city neighborhoods were centered around the local church. The members of those churches made sure that the people in their communities were looked after for the most part.
So, do we still look after our local communities? For the most part yes, however more and more we see where people are not connected. We see where people may feel left out, even though it is not intentional. A wall is formed of such phrases as “oh, they don’t want to go here”, or “I don’t think they would want me there.” Walls that can be broken with a simple, “Hello, won’t you please join us for worship on Sunday morning?”, or “Mrs. Smith we are starting a one day a week after school program, we would like to invite you and your children to come.”
Our work for the Lord begins in our local communities. Our acts of love begin here at home, letting the people in our local towns know that God is there for them. Our nation has gone from being tight knit little communities to communities of strangers who barely know or want to know each other.
So how do we cross that line? We let the Holy Spirit lead us. We trust Him in our approach. You see we need to be the Samaritan in our communities. We need to look beyond our walls, to those who are lonely, afraid, and hurting with in our own towns.
We may not have the resources to run a soup kitchen or provide other services that many larger churches do. However, we as a small church have the ability to share Christ in so many small ways. Ways that will allow the Holy Spirit to bring healing to the hurting. We can bring comfort and friendship to the lonely, and allow the peace that only Jesus Christ can bring to lift fear from their hearts.
These are the gifts we bring as a church based on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. These are the ways in which God allows us to reach out and cross the line and become the fortress in the middle of a hostile territory. A safe and secure sanctuary, that allows people to be strengthened in spirit and hope.
Just like when David sang in 2 Samuel 22 after being delivered from Saul.
He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior-- from violent men you save me. (2 Samuel 22:3-4 NIV)
We may be like the men at the Alamo per say, in the fact we are a small group surrounded by the forces of our enemy. We are however protected by a much greater and well-defended fortress through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
My continued challenge for you in the week to come is be willing to step across that line. Be willing to take up the challenge, go and be disciples of Christ. Be that witness to those in need, and let the Holy Spirit lead you to where He needs you to be a minister to others. May God richly bless your life this week and the lives of those you touch. Amen.
