It’s been 20 years this month since Fred Rogers passed away. For those who don’t know him, he was an actor, an author, a puppeteer and a Presbyterian minister. However, most people knew him as Mister Rogers, host and creator of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which debuted 55 years ago today. If you ever watched the show, there are usually three things you remember: the intro song (Won’t you be my neighbor?), the odd puppets, and Mister Rogers making you feel accepted, just the way you were. He taught that everyone was special and important and that it doesn’t matter what you look like or where you come from. Whether postman or king, child or adult, left shoe or right, everyone visiting his neighborhood was on the same level. He invited you to come and be his neighbor, and like me, you wanted to visit.

And yet, I’m not overly “neighborly.” I’m not a bad neighbor by most definitions, but I’m not a really good one either. I wave if we’re outside at the same time, but I’ve never invited them over. I don’t complain about their overgrown grass, but I don’t volunteer to cut it for them. If they asked for help, I would try, but wouldn’t expect the same from them. It’s a very middle-of-the-road type of relationship.

We all likely know the parable (story with instructional purpose) of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10). Just in case it’s been awhile, here’s a recap. A lawyer trying to test Jesus ended up asking, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus then told this story. A man went on a journey through a rough area and was robbed and beaten and left to die. A priest came by and crossed on the other side. A temple worker came and did the same. Then a foreigner, despised by the locals due to lineage and therefore least likely to be helpful, stopped, cleaned him up some and took him to safety and even paid for his care. Jesus asked which of these men was a neighbor to the injured man. The answer, of course, was “the one who showed him mercy. And Jesus said to him, You go and do likewise.” (Luke 10 37). We should be willing to go above and beyond the expected to help people we see in need, rather than just looking the other way and hoping another will come later to help.

The Pharisees also tried to test Jesus concerning the greatest of the commandments. “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”” (Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-40). If we put God first, we’ll desire to please him and do his will. If we love our neighbors, the way we should, we will automatically not desire their possessions or spouse or activities or house.

Jesus showed loving-your-neighbor by example in Mark 2 without even mentioning the word. “And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”” (Mark‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬-‭17). As Christians, we like to associate with other Christians, which we should, regularly. However, completely shutting yourself off from the world by only associating with Christians, robs your neighbor of the light and salt you are supposed to be spreading (Matthew 5). We need to get out of our church bubbles and into our communities to eat, sometimes literally, with ‘sinners.’

Christian, you must stop being so hateful to your neighbors! You also need to stop hating sinners for sinning, what else should they do? I’m not saying to accept what they are doing that goes against what God specifically teaches, or to spend your time in the bars and clubs. However, you aren’t going to be able to reach people where they are when they only see you as one of those hate filled Christians. To be like Jesus, we need to love and serve our neighbors so they are willing to hear the good news you have to share. If you aren’t loving, they won’t want to hear how God is love. If you aren’t helpful, they won’t care that God can help them. If you aren’t willing to be there neighbor here, why will they want to be your neighbor in heaven? As you see the same people every day, be their true neighbor, so that hopefully, they will become your brother.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” (Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭8‬, ‭12‬-‭16‬).