Perhaps no one ever modeled the gospel meshed in word and deed than did Dr. Livingston. I firmly believe he would have gladly involved himself in this shoe endeavor. The difference between me and him is that after the shoes were given, he would have gone with the gospel to those people.

Some among us are just adept at a pitiful criticism of this humanitarian effort, and they pontificate about “only the gospel can change the world” and yet there they sit before a computer in an air conditioned environment while these shoeless sinners die without Christ.

To whom that “shoe fits” I say this, “Because you say “we see” your sin remains”.

Rick.

You. are. AWESOME.

My mentor took relief materials into these villages and, being the neighbor like the Samaritan, started helping without strings, without expectation, without attending witnessing.

The Mayor of one village asked why. This opened the door for a conversation. In the conversation my mentor mentioned they had cases of Bibles in their storehouses as well. The Mayor invited, encouraged the group to distribute them along with the other supplies.

I hope to have the chance to witness this way some day.

Immediately after the war his group started helping rebuild Muslim villages in Bosnia. Many had been devastated by Croats (Catholic) and Serbs (Orthodox). Of course, such distinctions are lost on the Bosniaks (Muslims). As one Muslim in Mostar said to me; “See that cross up there [pointing to a very large cross on a hill overlooking Mostar] that is where they placed their guns and shelled our children.

My mentor took relief materials into these villages and, being the neighbor like the Samaritan, started helping without strings, without expectation, without attending witnessing.

The Mayor of one village asked why. This opened the door for a conversation. In the conversation my mentor mentioned they had cases of Bibles in their storehouses as well. The Mayor invited, encouraged the group to distribute them along with the other supplies.

How much more effect is it to “clean the face of Jesus” first, instead of using life-saving supplies as a bait and switch tactic?

My satire was an attempt not to take away from the real physical needs of people. But good works such as shoes, clean water, etc are all too often used as a panacea that makes people feel like they have done their duty to the least and the last and the lost… – PB

This can be true, of course. But this does not mean we cannot/should not participate in such efforts. Rick and Chad summed it up well in #39 and #40.

By the way, a little known fact, when the Samaritan brought the man to the inn he discovered that his church was boycotting that particular inn since it allowed gays to stay in the same room.

When he went to the next one he discovered his church was boycotting that one as well since it was owned by a pro-choice doctor.

When he went to the next inn he discovered it was sold out because of the nationwide Shepherd’s Conference about Calvinism.

Finally he arrived at a makeshift shelter which gladly took the beaten man in. The manager’s name was Shane Clairborne who treated them both with love and compassion.

** Later, when the Samaritan’s church found out he had checked the man into Clairborne’s shelter, he was ex-communicated and reported to the ODM blog nation.

You guys are missing the point…probably because of your being unregenerate by virtue of your lack of assent to the correct human interpretation of Scripture given us by the gift of the decentralized cyber-magisterium.

But that’s not the point…

The point is that you’re missing the point.

We can almost certainly be confident that the Samaritan shared the gospel with the beaten man when he returned to pay the rest of his bill and when the man was a captive audience, but now able to listen.

Just like we can certainly know that when Jesus turned water to “wine” it was really the best damn grape juice ever created. Move over Welch’s!

Just like too when Jesus said the thing about the sheep and the goats, we can certainly be assured that he…

oh. wait.

forget that one.

Just like when the letter from john says all that stuff about those that love know…

oh.

wait.

forget that too.

just know that the Samaritan was not a man pleaser.

Alleluia in the Church!
Alleluia to the infallible, inerrant, inspired, authoritative sola scripturae interpres scriptura, amen!

Yeah just imagine kids showing up with sneakers on there shoes on the other kids dont have shoes .

Uh…??????

That would be terrible for the others they would feel terrible about it , This is a terrible idea .

I don’t think it’s about the kids “feeling bad” I think it is the health issue.

Stop traded the gospel for shoes .Always trying to appeal to the flesh .

I guess Jesus feeding the 5000 was appealing to the flesh. Screaming on a beach “turn or burn” for a week is not appealing to the flesh but maybe it’s appealing to the emotions. Which is worse?

Only the gospel can change the world .

WOW we finally agree! This is a happy day. Now if you could just see that all of us here believe that.

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

It was the Levite who had a blog and had written books that were “exposing, contradicting and bringing to light the false teachings and practices of those who today are destroying and undermining the Christian faith”. And lest you feel sorry for this Samaritan, he was a disgusting, bath house deviant who later was found dead of AIDs and with a pink boa around his neck.

When told of this Samartitan’s death, the Levite remarked,

“Good, I rejoice in God’s wrath upon him and I am reposting my original article in which I link to the Jericho Gazette which reported on the attack on that Samaritan. My post was titled:

“Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out!”

Of course the liberal press did not report that when this Samaritan was found dead, a Miley Cyrus album was playing on his i-Pod. You can’t make this stuff up, said the Levite.”

I am happy to report that the Levites continue to defend the faith today, and the long line of beaten Samaritans throughout history are monuments of God’s justice! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!!!

The man passed out from the pain he was in and due to loss of blood.

“Oh well, I would help you but first you must sit through my Chick Tracts and my let me walk you through the 4 spiritual laws… and…”

The man bleed to death in front of him…

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?