Compelled by Compassion

For Americans everything has to do with the heart. Our love is from the heart. Our apologies are ‘heart felt’. Our hearts bleed for others. Our hearts are grieved. Babies capture our hearts. The funny thing is, in reality, if I feel something in my heart, I’m getting concerned that I might need to see a doctor.

The truth is, that when I am moving by love, grief, or compassion, I feel it in my core. Somewhere closer to my stomach then in my heart. Of course, drawing a heart with an arrow through it is much prettier than drawing a stomach with an arrow through it.

When Jesus had compassion on the people, the implied meaning was that He felt empathy in His gut. In fact, one of the words for compassion in the OT comes from the word womb linking the idea to a mother’s love.

Matthew 9:35–38 NIV

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

It seems like we live in a more divisive world than ever before. I can tell you that this election cycle seems more dramatic, polarizing, and upsetting than anything that I can remember. In a climate like this, it is important that we remember mercy and compassion.

We Worship a Compassionate God

From earliest time, the Israelite people knew that God was compassionate.

Exodus 34:6 NIV

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

The example of Christ illustrated the character of God as He saw their sicknesses and healed them; saw their harassment and comforted them; saw their confusion and led them.

The instructions given to the Church throughout the letters of the apostles called the Church to a higher level of compassion.

Ephesians 4:32 NIV

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:12–14 NIV

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

One Bible dictionary says this,

The apostle Paul listed a number of qualities that the Colossian church “as God’s chosen ones” was to incorporate; the first was compassion (Col 3:12). It was to be an integral part of the concept of Christian community. The Greek word means literally “to be moved in one’s bowels.” The term points to the very core of one’s inner feelings, much as the term “heart” does today. One’s intense inner feelings should always lead to outward compassionate acts of mercy and kindness.[1]

We Live in Need of Compassion

Life happens to us and to those around us. Our GUTS will be hurt and should be hurt for others in our worlds both near and far.

People are hurting in virtually epidemic numbers. Consider these statistics from the National Institute for Mental Health, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and other agencies regarding many of the major mental and relational health issues in the U.S.:

· 20–25 percent of adults suffer from a diagnosable mental illness in any given year; 50 percent in their lifetime

· 14–20 percent of children and adolescents suffer from a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder

· 20–25 percent of the population meet criteria for alcohol use disorder

· 60–80 percent of adolescent and adult males, and 40–60 percent of females, use pornography on a regular basis

· 25 percent of women have had at least one abortion (an issue that affects the mental health of both women and men)

· 5–10 percent of the population abuse prescription medications

· 64,000 people died from opioid overdose in 2016 — 175 per day, on average

· About 117 people commit suicide every day (one every 13 minutes)

· More than 40 percent of all marriages end in divorce

· In 2015, 48 percent of all live births were to unwed parents

· 1 in 3 girls, and as many as 1 in 4 boys, are sexually abused before age 18

· 1 in 5 women will be victims of sexual assault in their lifetime

· Only 33 percent of children will reach age 18 in a household with both biological parents

· Over 30 million people suffer from eating disorders, and someone dies from an eating disorder every hour

· Nearly 2,000 children are abused and/or neglected every day, in addition to adult elderly and disabled persons who suffer abuse and neglect

· 1 in 6 couples is infertile, 1 in 6 pregnancies miscarry, and most couples never adequately grieve or even discuss those losses

· 24 people per minute are victims of domestic violence by an intimate partner — with children witnessing 22 percent of these incidents — and domestic violence is the leading cause of physical injury to women

Sadly, many people who face these challenges never receive treatment. There is also evidence that many mental and relational health issues are as common among church people as they are among the general population. The individual and cumulative pain these realities represent is staggering. The struggle is real indeed.

Philippians 2:1–5 NIV

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

We all know the popular expression, to “have guts”, meaning that we ought to take strength and do something. Maybe we could change the expression into “have GUTS for compassion”. Instead we challenge everyone to act like Jesus and have compassion on others.

GUTS of Compassion

It has been said that the church is not a club for saints but a hospital for sinners who have been wounded by the scars of sin.

Look around at the people you go to church with every week. Chances are that, looking at outward appearances, all is well: the forced smile has been pasted on; the deep pain of life has been pushed temporarily aside; the convenient cliché (I’m fine! How are you? Fine. That’s fine …) comes to mind.

A church that has unity is unified because they have compassion for people. They have made a decision to become real and vulnerable. They have discovered by their own experience that the church should be a place for compassion. It is not a place for pretending.[2]

G – Good Samaritan

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus points out what it means to be truly compassionate and be a neighbor.

Luke 10:30–35 NIV

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

There are several things in the actions of the Samaritan stranger that are strange. The main thing is that the Samaritan was viewed as a lower class because they were a mixed race and had adopted Canaanite traditions. However, Jesus demonstrated that he was willing to cross cultural barriers to help others.

I read a statement by one of the STX missionaries this week. It made me think about how we can show compassion in our on-line and in-person conversations. Are we willing to cross lanes of traffic to help others in the ditch? A missionary posted the difference between debate and dialogue.

Debate Dialogue

Assumes there is only one right answer Assumes other have pieces of an answer

Listens to find flaws and argument Listens to understand

Defends your view at all costs Allows other’s thinking to improve yours

Searches for differences Searches for basic agreement

Compassion doesn’t disregard truth but it does try to draw others to the truth. Think about it, these are the ways we relate to loved ones in our lives.

U – Understand that Compassion Can Look Different to Each of Us

Through the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, especially in the parable of the good Samaritan (Lk. 10), it is clear that compassion is to be shown by his disciples to anyone who needs their help. It is to be like his, not only in being without respect of persons, but also in that it is expressed in deeds which may involve personal sacrifice[3]

1 John 3:17–18 NIV

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Pastor Tim Keller recently posted,

The Bible binds my conscience to care for the poor, but it does not tell me the best practical way to do it. Any particular strategy (high taxes and government services vs low taxes and private charity) may be good and wise—and may even be somewhat inferred from other things the Bible teaches-- but they are not directly commanded and therefore we cannot insist that all Christians, as a matter of conscience, follow one or the other. The Bible binds my conscience to love the immigrant, but it doesn’t tell me how many legal immigrants to admit to the U.S. every year. It does not exactly prescribe immigration policy. The Bible tells me that abortion is a sin and great evil, but it doesn’t tell me the best way to decrease or end abortion in this country, nor which policies are most effective. The current political parties offer a potpourri of different positions on these and many, many other topics, most of which, as just noted, the Bible does not speak to directly. This means when it comes to taking political positions, voting, determining alliances and political involvement, the Christian has liberty of conscience. Christians cannot say to other Christians “no Christian can vote for…” or “every Christian must vote for…” unless you can find a Biblical command to that effect.

Some objected to his post. I don’t think they understand what he is saying. The Bible teaches us to be compassionate, but your compassion may be giving a $100 bill while mine might be offering a Dave Ramsey course. Both are compassionate responses. Pastor Keller agrees that we are to care for the poor, love the immigrant, end abortion, and more, but suggests that the solutions are unique and should be a part of a national conversation.

We need to “understand that compassion can look different to each of us”.

T- Compassion Travels

To this point I have barely mentioned the fact that we are focused on missions this month at Grace Chapel. As I started this message, I provided a list of reasons that we need to be compassionate for people all around us.

· In the Czech Republic, 70% of the population does not even believe in God

· Believe it or not, Israel is 97% unreached. Only 1.7% are Christians.

· If you want to impact human trafficking (slavery) directly, you would have to go to Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, and Libya because they lead the world.

· The hungriest nations in the world are the Central African Republic, Yemen, Chad, and Madagascar.

It takes Compassionate GUTS to travel to places like these. The Great Commission hits at the heart of this theme.

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were able to cultivate the opportunities of young and old in our church to be a part of ministries like Convoy of Hope, MAP’s Construction Projects, children’s ministries, inner city missions, and more? Compassion travels.

Finally,

S – Compassion Must be Spirit Led

In the greatest mic drop moment of all time, Jesus stepped into ministry…

Luke 4:16–21 NIV

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus affirmed that His mission was about the Gospel, freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight, and a proclamation of Grace.

You and I have the advantage of the Holy Spirit in our lives to lead, convict, teach, and reveal the person of Jesus Christ. When we allow the Spirit of God to lead us, and we Listen to Him, I’m convinced we will have GUTS of Compassion.

[1] Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001). In Tyndale Bible dictionary (p. 306). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2001). Practical Illustrations: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians (pp. 42–43). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

[3] Meiklejohn, J. W. (1996). Compassion. In D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., p. 219). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

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