To avoid the French police

My brother says a French policeman could have arrested the Levite who walked past the roughed-up traveler on the road (Luke 10:25–37), for “non-assistance à personne en danger.” For this reason, my brother always talks to his seatmates on airplanes—and to every taxi driver in Miami and the cashiers at Walmart and all telemarketers. He figures it this way: If a man can be indicted for not helping a person in physical danger, how much worse would it be for a man who does not assist a person in danger of eternal loss?

On the flight to Pennsylvania for my mother’s memorial service, Marc happened to sit next to a Russian Jew. The man had completed his service in the Israeli military and was complaining about biased media coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. My brother shared the good news of Yeshua and of Israel’s special place in salvation history. A Muslim medical student from Pakistan who was sitting directly behind them joined in the conversation and objected to my brother’s interpretation of the Quran’s Surat 9:5, which orders Muslims to “slaughter the infidels.” The young man protested that the terrorists’ implementation of that order is the minority position among Muslims. It was a lively exchange, with more light than heat generated, and the three men shook hands upon parting.

Not everyone is necessarily appreciative of my brother. Perhaps the Jew on his recovery bed at the roadside inn said thank you to the Samaritan, but I can tell you on good authority that the middle-aged woman sitting in front of Marc on the return flight from Philadelphia was not happy. As he shared with a thirsty 40-year-old Cuban-American lapsed Catholic selected passages from Luke proving the historicity of Jesus’ life, the words splashed on more than their intended audience. Marc could see the other woman’s mounting agitation through the space between the cramped economy seats. She finally turned around and told him that not everyone shares his religious views. She then summoned the flight attendant, who deftly ignored the complaint and moved on.

But the Bible says:

“… for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power …” (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV).

And Marc figures that on Judgment Day we can expect to meet a presence more imposing than the French police.

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