On Being a Neighbor In the Context of Teaching Excellence and Biblical Foundations

Who is my neighbor? For whom am I responsible? How can I be a neighbor? To whom should I answer, is a question that has followed mankind through the millennia, beginning with the Genesis story. The fact that this question has been part of the legacy of mankind throughout history begs the question: Who is my neighbor? We go to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary to discover man’s definitions: 1) one living or located near another; 2) fellow man [woman]. As elucidated in this paper, the second definition is the principle pertaining to the portrayal of the attitude of the Christian towards his/her fellowmen or women. We then turn to the Ultimate Source of knowledge, the Holy Scriptures: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another”, according to Jesus Christ. It is the author’s contention that “neighborly” is the secular concept that summarizes the divinely-appointed principles in John 13:34.The question is: what do these texts mean when applied to the Christian walk? Are there biblical examples which one should reference to seek wisdom and understanding for maneuvering today’s world? While answering the question of the Christian walk, it is necessary to consider the following mandate: Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”, must be borne in mind. This, in this author’s understanding, should be the guiding principle that directs the conduct of the educator, which then, by God’s grace will be emulated by the students. The reader will discover that this attitude can be fostered and developed through a marriage of an understanding of another’s culture and language. The application of the principle of being neighborly, which facilitates being a light to the world will be addressed through the structure, mindset, and daily operations of the Modern Languages Department. Biblical principles have been integral in the building of the focus on the “other” within this department, nurturing a culture of collegiality and acceptance. This paper will provide a vision of the Modern Languages Department