I just started reading a book by Timothy J. Keller called Ministries of Mercy: The call of the Jericho Road as a part of a new strategy group at my church, formed to explore the biblical principles and practice of the call to show mercy to others, especially exhibited in the life and teachings of Jesus.

The book Prologue focuses on the parable of the Good Samaritan as found in Luke 10:25-37 and answers the question, “Who is my neighbor?” as “the one who showed mercy.” This parable of Jesus raises several questions, the first about the necessity of mercy: is showing mercy really a necessity to being a Christ follower? And secondly, about the scope of ministry… does he really mean literally anyone is my neighbor? And thirdly, the question as to the motive of mercy – do we perform it out of duty or does it overflow from hearts of real compassion?

The Introduction unpacks the question, “Who is my neighbor?” further. Keller cites statistics (valid through 1997) of the following groups:

• The Growth of Poverty
• The Homeless
• The Working Poor
• The Children of Poverty
• The Youthful Poor
• The New Ethnics
• The Blue-collar Poor
• Gray America
• The Sick
• The Prisoners

The statistics are overwhelming even though out of date.

Keller concludes:

1. We do indeed live on the Jericho Road (see parable)
2. The church of Jesus Christ must squarely face its responsibility for the neighbors lying in the road (see parable)

“Only the ministry of the church of Jesus Christ, and the millions of “mini-churches” (Christian homes) throughout the country can attack the roots of social problems.”

“Only Christians, armed with the Word and the Spirit, planning and working to spread the kingdom and righteousness of Christ, can transform a nation as well as a neighborhood as well as a broken heart. That is what the rest of this book is about.”

Stay tuned…