Without Compassion Are You Even a Christian?

If we are following Jesus, shouldn’t we strive to be just like him?

Why do we shy away from compassion? It is the power to lift the weak from their suffering. You have that power when you are following Jesus. Here is how to set that power loose!

What is Compassion?

Webster’s Third International Dictionary defined compassion as follows: deep feeling for and understanding of misery or suffering and the concomitant desire to promote its alleviation; spiritual consciousness of the personal tragedy of another or others and selfless tenderness directed toward it.

Compassion includes awareness, caring, concern and action. Compassion knows no borders or racial or religious differences. It perceives suffering of any kind in order to make things better. It is the quality that drew thousands of people to Jesus in his lifetime and ironically it is the lack of compassion that drives thousands of people away from his followers today!

Two Contradictions That Must Be Eliminated

The Mission Trip Paradox

When people go on a mission trip (from western countries), they discover how most of the world lives. Often, they are moved to compassion. They spend their money to buy local people food. They give them the clothes off their backs, sometimes returning with just the clothes they are wearing. They are moved by the poverty they experience, often for the first time in their lives.

Here’s the paradox. These same people often shun the poor of their own society. They have grown up with the thought that the poor are poor because of their own laziness, lack of ambition, addictions, or culture. This attitude cripples their witness and makes it more difficult to express compassion.

The Refugee/Immigrant Paradox

I had a conversation with a devoted follower of Jesus who was dismayed at the refugees seeking asylum at the southern border of the United States. His basic attitude was that they are just bringing all their problems with them. His words reflected a political stance far more than a compassionate stance. He was willing to give generously to compassionate ministries that relieved the hardships of people living far away but was against any compassionate expression to those who he perceived threatened his comfort or political views.

This is a sadly repeated view that refuses to show compassion to those who need it most.

What Should We Do?

I know that many of you are already leading a compassionate lifestyle. You may not need to take every step I list here. But an honest look at our lives is always warranted.

Repent

All change for the better begins with repentance. When we repent, we are confessing that our attitudes about compassion are not pure. Repentance also offers the confession that we want to express the same level of compassion Jesus did.

Employ a Redeemed Perception

When we repent we are redeeming our perceptions. We need to see and hear things differently. Instead of judgmentalism, we are going to exercise compassion. We will see suffering in a new light and instead of trying to determine why people suffer, we will focus on how we can alleviate that suffering.

List

It is good to simply list those who are suffering. In fact, to make it easier to take the next two steps, we must do this.

Pray

Pray for those who are suffering. Take that list and pray every day for those who are going through times of distress. There is never a shortage of things to pray for. Natural disasters leave thousands suffering. Pray for them. Pray for those around you who are suffering.

Do something

When you see someone asking for money on the street corner, do you give them something? My wife and I do. Some argue that they might use the money for drugs or alcohol. So what? It’s not our job to judge and they might be in great need. They will have to answer to God how they used that money. I will, too. I have knelt in the street with the homeless to pray for them – and then given them $10 so they can feed themselves. How can we, in good conscience, just pass them by?

For a small amount of money, you can feed the hungry around the world. You can give your time to help people in need. There are countless organizations that provide relief for the suffering. You can give them your time and your money.

Compassion is never complete until you take action!

Your Turn

Take these five steps today and make a difference in a life!