The Neighbor (The Black Church’s Response to AIDS)

Luke 10:30–37

30 Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.31 A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.32 Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 33 But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. 34 He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ 36 Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” 37 He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Although news of HIV/AIDS has been dormant these days, HIV/AIDS has not; especially in the black community. According to the CDC, African Americans represented 12% of the population, but accounted for 44% (17,528) of HIV diagnoses. African Americans have the highest rate of HIV diagnoses compared to other races and ethnicities.

Whenever we see images of those with HIV/AIDS in the media we often see the so called innocent victims; children and women. However when it comes to the men no matter how they contract this disease, it seems as though the blame is on them. So we show no and have no compassion for them because they brought it on themselves. The church is truly guilty of this mindset.

In the early to mid 2000’s there was an explosion of media coverage concerning the DL or Down Low (men who have sex with men and have sex with women but may not tell either partner of their fact) Black gay or same gender loving men took center stage again. Same gender loving men were established as the key villains and threat to Black Women when it came to HIV.

Like the man in this parable many of us have taken a wrong path in our lives. Some of us made it through quickly escaped harms way while others like this man were not so lucky walking in harms way.

The path from Jerusalem to Jericho was dangerous; everyone knew that you just didn’t travel alone. There were thieves and robbers waiting to attack, rob and kill.

HIV is also a thief, it attacks your physical health, tries to steal your future and kill your spirit. Just like the man featured in this story the church has abandoned those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Some of us are like the priest who saw the man and thought “Well he is already dead and I must not defile myself with him”.

We think that about those who are living with HIV/AIDS. Well I must not associate with them; I must not even get involved in this HIV thing because those who are gay or those who are infected already dead in sin. Some may also believe that those with HIV/AIDS got that from walking without God. The priest must have thought, “The man must have really sinned to get beat down like that or he brought it on his self”.

Now there is another group of us who are like the Levite. At least he stopped and looked at the man. Yes he stopped, but he offered no support, no prayer, no medicine, and no help. He stared for a minute and kept on going. He believed just looking was enough.

Don’t you think we have been looking long enough?

HIV/AIDS have been around for almost decades and yet the Church keeps on looking. We speak about loving our neighbor and yet we show no love.

We don’t want to get ourselves dirty, don’t want to get involve with HIV because of fear that other Christians will think that there is something wrong with us.

It is so interesting that Jesus mentioned the Samaritan in this parable. The Jews despised the Samaritans for they thought that they were unclean, heathens, etc. And yet those who thought of themselves as so holy were not Jesus’ example of a real neighbor.

A loving neighbor; it was the “sinful” Samaritan who stopped when he saw the man, took care of his wounds, made sure that he was taken care of and showed him compassion.

If it was not for the early LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, and Queer) activists and their supporters, I believe that there would not have been the type of support that there is now for those who are infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Well now it is time for the Black Church to step up and become real neighbors.