Your Friendly Neighbour, in Christ

If you grew up reading comic books you will be familiar with the phrase: “Your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.”

This is the slogan Spider-Man would leave around New York City whenever he left the bad guys for the police to pick up. It was his way of letting the people of his city know that he was their superhero and that what he was doing was for them.

In GCI, we want our congregations to be seen in a similar way. Not as superheroes, of course, but as essential parts of our local neighbourhoods — places where our neighbours know who we are, and that we are for them, and that they are welcome and included in our worship gatherings and events.

This raises a couple of questions. Who are our neighbours? And what do we mean by neighbourhood? For Spider-Man, it was the borough of Queens in New York City. While many superheroes would fight to save the world, Spider-Man knew his limitations, and his aim was to protect and serve his local neighbourhood. This is not to say that he never teamed up with other superheroes elsewhere, but he knew the importance of not abandoning his home turf.

In Luke 10:29, we read that Jesus was asked by an expert in Jewish law the question, “Who is my neighbour?”.

What is Jesus’ response? He told one of his most famous parables — the parable of the Good Samaritan. The story ends with a revolutionary realization that being a neighbour is not about class, race, or profession but about helping people around us who need help, even if they are our enemies!

This isn’t just a personal calling — it’s a congregational one. As congregations, our neighbours are those around us who need help, support, and encouragement. It is not defined by income, census data, or demographics — it is defined by Christ. As part of the body of Christ, we are called to serve and give our life for others.

Now, we may not be able to shoot webs, sense danger, or have superstrength like Spider-Man, but as Christians, we do have superpowers with which to help serve and protect our neighbourhoods: Faith, Hope, and Love.

All around the world, communities have been negatively affected by broken promises and betrayal by those closest to them. Divorces, disillusionment with our governments, and being taken advantage of by employers have shattered so many people’s lives. Into this mess, the Church is able to proclaim the faithfulness of God.

With climate change, genetic modifications, and the rise of artificial intelligence, what kind of future will our children inherit? Is the world becoming more authoritarian, and the risk of another world war increasing? Into this chaos, the Church is called to proclaim the hope that we have in Christ — hope for peace, for restoration, for justice, for life.

And the greatest superpower we have is love. Churches are not called just to serve communities, but rather to create community. Community is a byproduct of love — love for God and love for our neighbours. So many people around us do not really understand what love is, and how else are they supposed to learn if we do not show them? If we do not demonstrate God’s love to them by helping and supporting those who are different to us, who can’t return our kindness, and who can’t help themselves?

This year’s theme is Kingdom Culture and our call to be “friendly neighbourhood churches” is part of the way that we live out that culture on a congregational level.

As we reflect on what it means to be a neighbour in Christ, let us consider these questions:

1. Are we truly present in our neighborhoods?
   • Do people know that our church is here for them?
   • What practical steps can we take to engage with our local community?
2. How can we embody faith, hope, and love in our daily lives?
   • Are we showing faithfulness in our relationships and commitments?
   • Are we offering hope to those struggling with fear and uncertainty?
   • Are we demonstrating love in how we serve, welcome, and embrace others?
3. Are we willing to love sacrificially?
   • The Good Samaritan didn’t just acknowledge the wounded man — he acted.
   • What are we willing to give — our time, our resources, our comfort — to reflect the love of Christ to our neighbors?

One of my favourite Spider-Man quotes is: “You have the costume; you have the power. You’re Spider-Man. Act like it.”

We have faith, we have hope, and we have love. We are the Church. Let’s act like it.