Who Is My Neighbor?

I have never been one to shy away from controversy, especially when it comes to the broken, the disenfranchised and "those" people... whatever that may mean at any given point in time. Recently, I was challenged by a far right wing and self proclaimed “Christian” organization to not serve the LGBTQ+ community. Furthermore, they were seeking for me to denounce those individuals and to share our ministry’s statement of faith so all could know what we stand for. My response was an easy one for both myself and Matthew's Hope, where our team has been serving Central Florida for a decade and a half.

The foundation of my faith and our mission is based on Matthew 25:35-46 and Mark 12:30-31. I will not quote you scripture, as I hope you will look it up yourself while you examine your own heart, but I will give you a little hint. The first is, “what you have done for the least of these you have done unto me" and the second, "love your Lord, love your neighbor." Read the entire scripture and I assure you that you too will understand the importance of these two oddly overlooked verses. Many who turn a blind eye to these readings tend to focus on being the “God police” rather than serving and caring for others without condition.

Those verses became especially real to the entirety of Central Florida during the Pulse Nightclub massacre, which happened less than five miles from my former home and within walking distance of my stepdaughter’s high school. In the days that followed, the community came together in an extraordinary way, lining up to donate blood for those who were fighting to survive. There were no conditions placed on who deserved our compassion or who was worthy of our help. People simply saw their neighbors hurting and responded. God is the only judge, and it is through Him that we are able to care for the groups I stated in the beginning without fear that we are doing the wrong thing.

From the beginning of my life in ministry, and then founding Matthew’s Hope in 2010, it has always been a top priority to love and care for others without exception and be willing to show up where others would never go or expect to be seen. Matthew’s Hope serves all, with no discrimination or judgement based on race, religion, political affiliation, gender, or sexual orientation. It really is that simple.

Even Jesus sat with the prostitute before telling her to go and sin no more. Jesus didn’t care about what others thought aside from reminding the religious zealots who their neighbor was. He went where others dare not. He loved the unlovable and He came to heal the sick. He, Jesus, is our model. He is our “Why?”

One of my favorite Seminary Professors once said to me, “Scotty, you will come across many Christians with scabs on their knees. However, the ones you want to look for are those with dirt under their fingernails, as they are the ones getting the work done”.

At Matthew’s Hope we have dirt under our fingernails and would have it no other way.

So here is to the crazy ones, the ones with dirt under their fingernails, those who dare to go where needed, as they are the ones who believe they can change the world. It is you who understand and are willing to stand in the gap.

Blessings!