"Outing" the Good Samaritan

Faith in the Public Square
Dr. Bob Cornwall
Lompoc Record
February 18, 2007

Do you want to be known as a Good Samaritan? Of course you do! The Good Samaritan is an almost universally recognized term of appreciation for people who stop to help others in distress. So positive is this phrase that a nationwide RV organization with a million or so members proudly calls itself the “Good Sam Club.” Its logo even features a man with a halo - a rescuing angel perhaps.

There's only one problem with this picture: the Good Samaritan of Jesus' parable is a somewhat scandalous, though fictional, person. The degree of this scandal has been lost, but maybe it needs to be reconsidered. In its proper context, the story of the Good Samaritan illustrates the qualities of a good neighbor. The Bible says we're supposed to love our neighbor, but, who is my neighbor?

If you don't know the story, let me give you the gist - a guy gets mugged while on a trip. As he lies in the ditch, half dead, two religious professionals pass by and fail to stop. Maybe they're too busy to be inconvenienced, or maybe they're afraid they'll get mugged themselves. How many of us have done the same thing? Although these religious leaders didn't act like a good neighbor, their actions aren't the scandal in this story. (For the rest of the column, click here)

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