10 Essential People to Visit for Theologians

Faith and Theology has been running lists of essentials for theologians, from essential paintings to essential places to visit (Africa, anyone?). This last inspired me to compile a list of 10 essential visits for theologians:

1. Your family members (I Timothy 5:8).
2. Your neighbors (Luke 10:27).
3. The person you always say Hi to at church, and think someday you should call (Acts 2:42).
4. The foreigner that works at the corner store (Exodus 23:9)
5. A nearby soup kitchen or food pantry (Matthew 25:35)
6. A social outcast that you know (Luke 7:34)
7. A nearby hospital or shut-in (Matthew 25:36)
8. The breakdown lane of the highway (Luke 10:33)
9. The old friend you lost touch with years ago (Proverbs 18:24)
10. The person you're avoiding who holds a grudge against you (Matthew 5:23-24)

Why are these 10 essentials actually essential?

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)

The risk is not unique to theologians. But maybe we word-oriented people can use a reminder that the Word became flesh and lived among us.