Christian Discipleship.
Despite many uncertainties that we may hold when facing disadvantaged individuals" requests, Christian Discipleship has succeeded in requiring that we must assist these neighbors. Many people in today's world question their obligation of helping others. However, biblical texts provide an incontrovertible message in which Christian disciples must support their neighbors. Additionally, the Bible states that our neighbors are not restricted to those that live in close proximity. In fact, as Christians we are taught to regard all of God's children as our neighbors, regardless of familiarity. In light of this requirement, sacred scripture and the actions of Jesus Christ shed light on the impact of this obligation on our daily lives and guide us when faced with an afflicted neighbor. While many of us question our responsibility to one another, Christian Discipleship and the Bible have clearly summoned God's people to be responsible for each other and eliminate suffering and poverty.
Sacred Scriptures unmistakably communicate that all of God's people are compelled to help their neighbors. Actually, the Bible explicitly reveals that failing to assist the needy is a sin. Proverbs 14:21 powerfully states "He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy." Thus, not only are we compelled to help others, but it is genuinely sinful to neglect our neighbors. In Luke 16:19-31, the story of the rich man and Lazarus emphasizes the true severity of this sin. Lazarus is a very poor man that lives just outside to walls of the rich man's estate and receives no assistance from the rich man even though he lives in such affluence and can easily spare some of his food for Lazarus. When each of the two men dies, the rich man is sent to Hell, while Lazarus takes his place in heaven next to Abraham. The rich man looks up and cries out for Abraham's mercy, but Abraham replies that he received good things in life while Lazarus received bad things, and now there is a "great chasm" that splits the two worlds so that he can receive no mercy.
