New Look at the Good Samaritan

 Oft times I am reminded of different Bible stories I learned growing up- and now see them in an unfiltered light. 

Like the story of the Good Samaritan. 

Remember the man robbed and bruised and left to die? All the people that walked by him and saw him lying there and not doing anything. 

Maybe expressing pity, loathing, “I will say prayers for you” nonchalantly as they walk by.

Until… someone walked by who cared. 

Who picked up this person they didn’t know and nursed him back to health. 

Now I see this story no longer as “ look the world will pass you up, but God’s people will lift you up!”, but instead I see it through a deconstructed faith’s point of view.

I was the person in the ditch - bloodied and bruised by bad theology and spiritual abuse. I was left to just die under the context of “convictions” that were just spiritual chains. 

Christians passed by. They saw my hurt. They saw the pain. They just stayed silent. 

Or gave me platitudes. 

Or judged me for falling.

Or pushed me further down because they were so much better than me. 

Until.

A Good Samaritan came by. This wasn’t just one person- it was people over the years who were not Christians at all or NON IFB Christians. 

They picked me up. 

Loved me bloodied and bruised .

Began to give me space to heal and recover. 

These people saved my life- in many ways. 

None of them were who I was told would help me. The sinners . 

The ”world”.

The “fallen away” Christians.

They showed me more grace, non judgment, and authenticity than I ever found inside the doors of an IFB church. 

Period. 

This is who I want to be. 

This kind of Good Samaritan . 

- Amber Schultz 

2023