Compassion from the hurting

[mindlight]

I was reading Matthew 14 for a sermon coming up. Jesus having been rejected by the ruling authorities of his day, both religious and political goes to a solitary place to pray. Then he is confronted by a crowd of ordinary, poor common folk and he has compassion on them healing their sick and feeding them with the miracle of the feeding of the 5000.

The passage got me thinking about how Jesus also experienced the pain of rejection by those in the establishment of his day. Yet he did not translate this into anger and revenge but rather into compassion for those who were also victims of this ruling class. In doing so he demonstrated the true character of what a Messiah could be.

The questions I have from this are two fold

1) Does the power of compassion depend on an experience of the same pains that the recipient of compassion is experiencing. We know how to show compassion cause we ourselves have lived through it sort of thing.

2) Given the obvious lack of compassion in American society for
a) the poor (no social mobility and massive inequality),
b) the sick (no comprehensive and affordable health care in the age of pandemics) and
c) the marginalised (no voice for those not represented by the establishments two party system)

Is this lack of compassion in American politics ( and the dismissal of anyone who talks this kind of language as a socialist) born of the fact that many rich Americans have never really felt the poverty, loss of choices and deep insecurity of the worlds poor?

 

[Richard T]

You have a great question of whether worldly compassion is the same as God given compassion. I think the answer is primarily no. I base this on the Charles Finney book, Love is not a Special Way of Feeling. In this book, he distinguishes feelings from the flesh versus feelings from God. He suggests that we need to listen to God to love others. Whether it is in our giving or other commitments, seeing through the eyes of God in this matter far outweighs are own personal feelings. only knowing this can we be armed with the fortitude to ignore some people and give generously to others.

Most everyone, (perhaps sadists or sociopaths excluded) has some earthly compassion. We see horrible pictures of the dogs and cats on TV and want to respond. That however, is normally just our flesh. How do I know? Because many sinners are moved to give. Sinners in fact, are notorious to give to various charities. If I recall Finney right, this is basically selfish giving. It is selfish because in those cases they give to make themselves feel better. Christians sometimes do that too. Because we all have limited resources, we should be more God directed, and not flesh directed. God wants a cheerful giver that responds in faith to give in the way God directs.

To have the compassion of God, you have to see through His eyes. Personal pain might make one more sensitive, but one does not need pain to see through the eyes of God. In fact, seeing through God, will take away those earthly biases that exist. Frankly, we need agape love, anything else will fall short.

As to the government's seeming lack of compassion we need God's view here as well. It is far tougher yet the utmost loving, than most imagine.
1 Timothy 5:3-11 (KJV)
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

From this passage we see that God sets limits. Thus, I would argue that the government should set limits too. Free welfare makes people dependent and in some cases lazy. President Johnson started the war on poverty, and I doubt things are any better now. Our government programs are bloated, inefficient and often target the wrong people in the wrong way. Often things are done for votes, not for really helping those in need. 1200 a person is an example of that. Cash for clunkers was even worse, the list is endless. What is needed is total reform as to the qualifications and needs of the public. You have to remember too that some consider it theft, when one is required to pay taxes to support families that are not their own.

I know the allure of bigger government, of healthcare and guaranteed income. To get there you can't use coercion though. America is not Sweden, as you do not have the consent of those governed to have the support you need. Instead of large welfare programs that poorly function, we should have focused and less waste in this area of government. Programs that offer incentives to be removed from welfare whenever possible, and support for mental health, addictions and other things that get in the way of some people thriving.

 

[mindlight]

You have a great question of whether worldly compassion is the same as God given compassion. I think the answer is primarily no. I base this on the Charles Finney book, Love is not a Special Way of Feeling. In this book, he distinguishes feelings from the flesh versus feelings from God. He suggests that we need to listen to God to love others. Whether it is in our giving or other commitments, seeing through the eyes of God in this matter far outweighs are own personal feelings. only knowing this can we be armed with the fortitude to ignore some people and give generously to others.

Most everyone, (perhaps sadists or sociopaths excluded) has some earthly compassion. We see horrible pictures of the dogs and cats on TV and want to respond. That however, is normally just our flesh. How do I know? Because many sinners are moved to give. Sinners in fact, are notorious to give to various charities. If I recall Finney right, this is basically selfish giving. It is selfish because in those cases they give to make themselves feel better. Christians sometimes do that too. Because we all have limited resources, we should be more God directed, and not flesh directed. God wants a cheerful giver that responds in faith to give in the way God directs.

To have the compassion of God, you have to see through His eyes. Personal pain might make one more sensitive, but one does not need pain to see through the eyes of God. In fact, seeing through God, will take away those earthly biases that exist. Frankly, we need agape love, anything else will fall short.

As to the government's seeming lack of compassion we need God's view here as well. It is far tougher yet the utmost loving, than most imagine.
1 Timothy 5:3-11 (KJV)
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

From this passage we see that God sets limits. Thus, I would argue that the government should set limits too. Free welfare makes people dependent and in some cases lazy. President Johnson started the war on poverty, and I doubt things are any better now. Our government programs are bloated, inefficient and often target the wrong people in the wrong way. Often things are done for votes, not for really helping those in need. 1200 a person is an example of that. Cash for clunkers was even worse, the list is endless. What is needed is total reform as to the qualifications and needs of the public. You have to remember too that some consider it theft, when one is required to pay taxes to support families that are not their own.

I know the allure of bigger government, of healthcare and guaranteed income. To get there you can't use coercion though. America is not Sweden, as you do not have the consent of those governed to have the support you need. Instead of large welfare programs that poorly function, we should have focused and less waste in this area of government. Programs that offer incentives to be removed from welfare whenever possible, and support for mental health, addictions and other things that get in the way of some people thriving.

Not sure that Jesus compassion differentiated between religious or worldly types. He saw sick people and healed them. Only 1 of the 10 lepers came back and said thank you so it was not conditional on faith. The current health system in the USA consumes twice the resources that comprehensive health care in the best European systems cost. So the reservation relating to resources is moot.

 

[Richard T]

Not sure that Jesus compassion differentiated between religious or worldly types.
While I did say that giving should be God-directed that does not exclude giving to organizations that may not be Christian. Yes, Jesus wishes to relieve all pain and suffering, but he also knew the poor would always be with us.

He saw sick people and healed them. Only 1 of the 10 lepers came back and said thank you so it was not conditional on faith.

Seems like faith played a great role in the miracles and healings Jesus performed.
Mark 5:34 (KJV)
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Mark 10:52 (KJV)
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

The current health system in the USA consumes twice the resources that comprehensive health care in the best European systems cost. So the reservation relating to resources is moot.

If you only advocate for government health care for all then yes, we could find the money to make that happen fairly easily. However, the problem is that it does not stop there. Also, to get where the rest of the world is in health care as a percentage of GDP the medical field would have to cut labor costs. I don't know if M.D.s etc are going to accept what they do in the rest of the world. Physician Compensation Worldwide
Notice though specialists do make more in a couple of countries, I would guess it is very hard to get approved to see one, or the waiting list is much longer.