WALDROP: The Good Samaritan — a basis for health care?

Those of us who look to the Bible for guidance through today’s many complicated social issues must not turn away from it over the crisis in health care. If the question, “What would Jesus do?” has any relevance anywhere, it does so here; although it might be better phrased as, “What would Jesus have us do?”
The “Parable of the Good Samaritan” is as revolutionary now as it was when Jesus first told it (Luke 10:25-37 TEV). So was the occasion for it: a highly religious young man tries to trick Jesus by quoting all the “right doctrines” while speaking from an insincere heart. His spiritual descendents are not unknown on this issue today.
Who would challenge someone’s asking, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Get him quickly down the aisle this Sunday as an example to the rest of the church — right? Wrong.
Jesus challenged him immediately and violated, not once but twice, that time honored rule: “Never answer a question with a question.” He knows well those who push for an assurance of personal salvation without involvement in other people’s needs.
Jesus’ first counter question is: “What do the Scriptures say?” With no pre-memorized evangelistic response, he throws the man onto his own resources as a Bible believer (and a well trained one at that). Jesus thus defines the resource pool and someone interested in salvation must bathe in that water first. Is the Bible our first resource to the health care crisis; or, is it the cable news networks — of all political biases?
Before the man can answer, Jesus asks his second counter question — uncharacteristic of the one whom a hymn presents as “Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild.” What follows is a measured skepticism that can expose the manipulation of even the most qualified Biblical theologian. “How do you interpret them?” has brought about some very revealing responses as health care related scriptures are interpreted by churches all around the country today. (For example, how many interpretations of “Heal the sick” (Matt. 10:8a) are there?).
Does Jesus value human interpretation of Scripture? Of course. A good teacher values her students’ “interpretation” of the multiplication table or subject-verb syntax, right? And we can be sure that Jesus listens to our own interpretations of health-care related Scriptures. Do you know where they are?
This young man has a ready answer for Jesus: “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, strength and mind.” Surprisingly, he even adds: “And love your neighbor as yourself.” He knew his Old Testament, didn’t he (Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18)? Jesus would not have a problem with that, right?
Right! Jesus told him: “Your answer is correct. Do this and you will live.”
After getting an A-plus from your fourth-grade math or English teacher, would you want to “push the envelope” any further? Well, he did and the Scripture tells us why: “But the teacher of the Law wanted to put himself in the right, so he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Because he pushed it, the lawyer’s life unravels. His A-plus in theology can not save him from an F-minus in theological application.
Rather than give him a “My Neighbor List” for his refrigerator, Jesus tells him a story. Why? It is because a literal list of our neighbors identifies two groups of people. The ones we are supposed to love are spelled out in writing. We don’t have to love anyone whose name isn’t there.
Does Jesus care how we interpret his Parable of the Good Samaritan?
(Continued next week)