Being Neighbors - by Marc Bellaart

My first real full-time job was as a loan officer for a bank. During the first few months on the job as a trainee I was sometimes sent out, along with my fellow trainees, to “shop” various branch offices of the bank. Banks use “shoppers” to pose as customers as a way of judging customer service. So I’d get my list of branches to evaluate, and drive around all day from bank to bank standing in line and requesting various services. After each visit, I’d sit in the car and write up my experience based on a handful of criterion, then move on to the next branch.
Branch managers knew when it was “shopping season”, and sometimes they’d be on to me, detecting my phony visit (was this 21 year-old really interested in an auto loan for a BMW320i?) and slyly alerting their employee as to my real identity. I remember once receiving the “next customer” beckon from a teller, and while walking to her window saw her supervisor casually walk behind her and whisper, “shopper.” I received fantastic customer service in that instance!
I wonder what would happen if churches did the same thing as banks, and sent anonymous shoppers to evaluate their experience visiting a church for the first time. How would we grade on friendliness? How would we grade on knowledge of the organization? How would we grade on first time impression and overall welcome? Of course, I realize that’s a forced analogy to some extent – but still, aren’t significant and lasting impressions formed from a first visit to a church? Weren’t yours?
Jesus told his disciples that the world would know them by their love. The apostle John wrote that real love is not just with words but also with actions. This is not just a love and care between believers, but for the world as well. Most churches do pretty well at caring for their own, but many struggle to express care and welcome to the stranger, the visitor, and the newcomer.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus told of a man on the road to Jericho who was robbed, stripped and beaten by a band of desert thieves. A priest and a Levite passed by the mugged victim, not wanting to get involved. But a Samaritan stopped and helped. He bandaged the man’s wounds, put him on his donkey and took him to an inn, and gave the innkeeper money to look after him. Then Jesus asked, “which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who was robbed?”
The Samaritan, yes. But more than that I think Jesus is asking, “are you a neighbor?” Christ’s followers ask who is my neighbor?, and then they live as neighbors to those around them. They distinguish themselves by love, attention to needs, extending hospitality, and being personable and available to others.
Being a place of welcome looks like remembering this – all the time. If each of us carries a personal awareness of our role as neighbor, host, and bearer of the love of Jesus, then combined we will reflect an amazingly clear and welcoming picture of who God is. The truth is, we’re “shopped” all the time: on Sundays, in the workplace, in our communities, and even with friends and family.
There. I just whispered it…who can you be a neighbor to this week?