Relatives and A Core Principle of Christian Faith

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This is a story of some real relatives.  But no real names or locations are given.  We will call them John and Jezebel Smith for names and give the location as Timbuktu.  I have known the female relative for decades and rarely ask a favor.  In fact, it's probably one small favor every two years.

Recently, I have needed a routine scoping procedure at a local hospital.  I need someone to legally ride with me home. They would need to either drive or take an Uber or Lyft, at my expense. It would only take an hour or an hour and a half, while the child was in school.  Well, Jezebel's excuse is that John's son is coming over and they need to prepare him for school. Sounds good.  Except that the call will come when he is in school, and the task will be finished well before school ends.

Now I go to a health club and sit in the sauna during the week.  There are women there chatting about their day.  Many drop the kids off or get them on the school bus.  Then they come to take classes and work out at the club.  So what's the big deal?

Now, when I mentioned this to Jezebel, she got really upset.  Is she telling me the truth about why she can't do it?  

• Tell me you don't like me.  
• Tell me you are too lazy.  
• Tell me the truth.  

Don't make up an excuse that doesn't hold water.

To make things worse, she claims to be Christian. But she only goes to church twice a year.

Then she says she won't forgive me for bringing up the subject and pointing out the women in the club with kids. Now I am a Byzantine-rite Catholic, which uses the same worship style as the Eastern Orthodox Church. But since she attends Protestant churches on Christmas and Easter, I respond with scripture:, 

"That's not Christian.  Matthew 6:14-15

English Standard Version

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Then I point out that scripture commands us to help others:

"The Bible consistently and clearly commands us to help others, presenting it as a fundamental expression of love and obedience to God.

The Greatest Act of Service

· Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV): Jesus teaches that serving those in need is the same as serving Him. 'I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me... Whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me' .

Carrying Each Other's Burdens

· Galatians 6:2 (NIV): This verse gets to the heart of Christian community. 'Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ' .

Practical Generosity

· 1 John 3:17 (NLT): This is a direct challenge to our compassion. "If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?" 

· Proverbs 19:17 (NIV): This verse beautifully connects generosity to our relationship with God. 'Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done' .

· Hebrews 13:16 (ESV): This frames good works as a form of worship. 'Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God' .

A Core Principle of Faith

· Philippians 2:4 (ESV): This teaches a posture of selflessness. 'Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others' .

· James 1:27 (NLT): This is a core definition of what God calls 'pure religion.' It is 'caring for orphans and widows in their distress' .

These scriptures show that helping others isn't just a recommendation, but a central way we live out our faith and reflect God's love. If you're interested, I can share some verses that specifically address how to help our enemies."

Christianity is a religion of practice and love.  In fact, a famous Indian guru, Neem Karoli Baba, summed it up perfectly in his philosophy.  "Love all, serve all."  It's not a religion where one can be a CINO (i.e., Christian in name only, a take on RINO, Republican in Name Only) and have a RYO (i.e., Roll Your Own) philosophy and theology.

The funny thing is that an Indian friend is giving me a ride back and is not Christian, but Hindu and a practitioner of meditation.  And I'm sure he would do the same if he were Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, or Sikh.  And the relative? She stopped communicating with me.  But then I thought: Do I really need relatives like them?