by Aran M

Created on: August 20, 2009   Last Updated: September 10, 2009

When Jesus was asked who is our neighbour he responded with the parable of the good Samaritan. From this message it is clear everyone is your neighbour and there are no boundaries in who should be covered by the love of those who follow Jesus. This is an interesting point especially in these times of international terrorism and global recession where there is a temptation to look after ones own. It doesn't matter what faith or what colour skin someone has, according the the Bible they are our neighbour.

Jesus' teachings taken from a religious or secular perspective are so ground breaking because they call on people to love not only those that we get on with but our enemies. When Christians look at conflicts in other nations, for example, they are called to look at them with empathy. There can be no excuse for the belief that this suffering is of no concern simply because the individual is of another culture or of another nation. When Jesus spoke of one's neighbour he interpreted the term broadly.

The second thing Christians learn from the parable of the good Samaritan is love is practical. The good Samaritan did not simply pray and walk by but physically helped the person in need. It was not enough for the good Samaritan to have good intentions, actions were required too. People cannot expect things to change unless they act to change them. This demonstrates that people of all faiths and none can expect the help of Christians if they are in need.

Christians can for fill this obligation in everyday life, through charitable works and by ensuring safety nets are in place for those who fall on hard times. Christians can ensure the products they buy are from companies that do not use child labour and pay families in the developing world a living wage for their labour. We can pay a fair prise for goods and ensure companies we trade with paid fair wages.

But isn't this a bit 'political' not 'religious'? Well, it may indeed be political but it is also a direct application of the religious principle of loving one's neighbour. As we know that we want to be paid an amount that allows us to feed and educate our children so we know those in the third world must feel the same way. This is at the heart of the basic message of loving ones neighbour when we see, as Jesus did, everyone as a neighbour.

In conclusion loving your neighbour is about simply loving everyone. Loving everyone is something that is to be backed up by action. Simple yet powerful.

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