Jesus had little patience with institutional religion that cared for its own needs while neglecting the plight of ordinary people. In one of his most famous parables, he sets up as a model of Christian behavior a man who, unlike some religious folks, actually gets down off his donkey and helps a person in dire need.
The parable of the good samaritan is the backdrop of the book, Get Off Your Donkey!: Help Somebody and Help Yourself by author Reggie McNeal. It is an easy and good read with simple, yet not easy truths. In a church world of all too often selfish, self-centered motivations, McNeal calls for a “back to the future” makeover which calls the church (us) to get off our donkeys!
One reader observes, “that the quickest way to grow spiritually is to serve other people… and that if I am so involved in congregational activities and fellowship I probably won’t have time for people who need help; this would make it more about religion than following Jesus. (You think!) Jesus loves the people in the world and if I am stuffed away in my congregational building most of the time I won’t have as much time to help people in the world.”
I’ve read the book and am bought in! (again easy but not simple) So if you’re one of those “Jesus following folks” (or think you might want to be) let me encourage you to give it a read and then challenge yourself with the books central questions:
- What is keeping you on the donkey?
- Are the distractions of life such as busyness and unavailability preventing you from stepping out to help others?
- What are the fears that are stopping us from proceeding a life of service?
- Are we under the shroud of apathy?
- Are we unwilling to change at all, even when we know there is a lot of good we can do?
For more information check out the website http://getoffyourdonkey.net
Jim
