Read: Matthew 22:39
The Simpsons is one of the longest running tv shows in history. It has a crazy assortment of characters, but one has always stood out to me. I’m talking about Nedward “Ned” Flanders, the lovable next “diddly door” neighbor. His often over-the-top religiosity and unwavering commitment to Christian dogma has established him as one of the most—if not THE most recognized fictional name in Christianity.
And, man, does he nail all the stereotypes—both good and bad. His favorite games are The Good Samaritan and Clothe the Leper. His doorbell plays “A Mighty Fortress” and his car horn blares the “Hallelujah Chorus.” He attends church three times a week, and he is the most honest person in Springfield.
And of course, this is why he is placed right next door to his polar opposite—Homer Simpson. The juxtaposition of these two characters and the clash of their worldviews may actually be one of the reasons why The Simpsons has been one of the longest running series in television history.
You know, for a long time I would shake my head at Ned. I thought he gave Christianity a bad name, and any Christ follower who acted like him should cease and desist immediately.
But now after all these years, I’ve realized that I myself (and plenty of other believers) could use a good dose of Ned in our lives. Sure he can be cheesy and pushy—but really, when push comes to shove, Ned exhibits one of the most critical teachings of the Bible: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).
This verse is pretty easy to handle when you live next door to folks who play well with others, but Homer has been nothing short of a thorn in the flash for St. Ned. From name calling to pranking to just downright cruelty, Ned has hung in there with Homer, even to the point of saving his life in dangerous circumstances.
Whenever I see Ned and his attitude towards Homer, this verse comes to mind:
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too (Philippians 2:3-4).
This season of the Simpsons will probably see the departure of Ned Flanders, but I hope that the legacy he leaves will be a willingness on all our parts to love our neighbors as ourselves—even if he or she is a person like Homer Simpson! And remember that according to Jesus, our “neighbor” is not defined by geographical proximity. Rather it is determined by the unity of humanity being made in God’s image! In other words, the question is not “who is my neighbor?” Because the real question is “who is not my neighbor?’ And the answer is…
Nobody! Everyone with whom you come into contact is your neighbor, and some may be nice and kind, and some may be a living example of the way Homer treats Ned.
And guess what? If the world is treating you like Ned, then BE like Ned!
Because…in this ever-darkening world, we could all use a few more “Hey-Diddly-Ho Neighbor-eenos!”
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