The Need for Compassion

By Brian Mitchell

Let’s talk about the Case for Compassion. In doing so, I want us to consider an important question. In what ways have you, individually, or have we, collectively, shown compassion recently? Our first response would probably be – What do you mean by compassion? What is Compassion?     The Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines compassion as “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” Compassion rises above how we feel about the situation of another, to what we do about their situation. In this sense it is much like love which entails doing whatever is in the best interest of the one to whom our love is shown.     How much sympathy or sorrow do we really feel for the misfortune of others? And a more important question–Do we really have a strong desire to alleviate their suffering? If you are anything like me, you will probably have to admit that your compassion level isn’t always what it needs to be. In fact, if I’m not careful, then my first response to the needs of others can often be rather cold – “Well, they did it to themselves.” Or, “It’s not my problem.” “They should have been more careful or responsible.”     Again, if you notice the definition, it doesn’t say anything about “the strong desire to alleviate the suffering of another” so long as they deserve it. Compassion is to be shown to all, regardless of whether they show any to us. Because Our God is a God of Compassion and He desires that we be as well. The Bible presents us with the picture of a God who is full of compassion and thus over and over calls upon us to be people of compassion—Ex.34:6, Deut.15:11.     So, wouldn’t you agree that caring for the tangible needs of human beings is part-and-parcel of genuine Christianity? When action-oriented compassion is absent, then it’s a tell-tale sign that something is spiritually amiss. Uncaring and uncompassionate Christianity does not attract seekers into its fold. But a clear and consistent demonstration of Christ-like love is a powerful magnet that pulls people toward God. ACT Program—Partners for Africa.     Jesus illustrated the importance of compassion in one of His most famous stories–The Parable of the Good Samaritan. The story is found in Luke 10 and is so familiar to many of us. It’s a story about a Jewish man who was walking from Jerusalem toward the city of Jericho. As he traveled along, some hoodlums and thugs robbed him and beat him up, leaving him half-dead in a ditch on the side of the road.     A short time later a Jewish priest came walking along, but when he saw the man, he moved to the other side of the road and passed by without slowing down. A little while later, another religious man, a Levite, came along. He too quickly passed by on the other side. Finally, along came a man from Samaria, and even though there was a lot of ethnic strife between the Samaritans and the Jews, this Samaritan felt compassion for the robbery victim and stopped to see how he could help.     After assessing the situation, the Samaritan knelt down over the man, cleaned and bandaged his wounds, lifted the man onto his donkey and took him to an inn. The Samaritan gave the innkeeper some money to take care of the man, and said that if the care of the man ends up costing even more, he would pay the additional expenses when he came back through. In conclusion Jesus asked this question, “which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves” (Lk.10:36). To which the lawyer he told the parable to responded, “He who showed mercy or compassion on him” (Lk.10:37). May the same be said of us.

- Brian Mitchell serves as a minister with the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net