Holy Neighbor (Contemporary)

We are all invited by Jesus. First let’s respond to Him.

“All of us want to have good neighbors living next door. Most of us want to be seen as being good neighbors. “Good” could mean being some of the things listed above or simply minding our own business as a way of encouraging individualism while also living it. We can get in and out of our homes without ever having to leave the garage and still be considered good neighbors. What if we have been called to be more than simply “good neighbors?” What if we have been called to be “holy neighbors” instead?”

What’s the difference between a good neighbor and a holy neighbor? One is a cultural standard, the other a standard set by God. Most of the cultures we live in today are not encouraging or challenging us to be holy but they are expecting us to be good. Being “good” as a neighbor is a standard that can be met with little to no effort and no interaction at all, except for maybe the occasional smile and wave. Keeping my kids pets out of your yard could be just enough to make me a good neighbor.

Being a holy neighbor requires much more. God is calling holy neighbors to practice hospitality, practice social responsibility, and pursue the kingdom good. Hospitality is more than being polite, it is looking for ways to establish relationships, to move neighbors from being acquaintances to friends. We do this by inviting individuals into our homes and our lives.”

“The mission of holiness can only be lived within community. We must continually look for ways to have our church-lives bleed into our everyday-lives. Good neighbors respect property lines, holy neighbors look for ways to connect over the fence. May we look for ways to live in relationship with our neighbors, to live lives of social responsibility, and to pursue ways to live with kingdom priorities.”