Flanders had originally been meant to just be a neighbor that Homer was jealous of , but Harry Shearer used `` such a sweet voice '' and Flanders was planned to become a Christian and a sweet guy that someone would choose to live next to over Homer . Flanders had been meant to be just a neighbor that Homer was jealous of , but Harry Shearer used `` such a sweet voice '' and Flanders was broadened to become a Christian and a sweet guy that someone would prefer to live next to over Homer .