Torch, Spring 2002

American culture. When you consider what’s happening in Afghanistan, do you only see a war on terrorism? Or do you see the Afghan people and their plight? Are you moved with compassion for them, for their material needs, for their physical needs, and for their spiritual needs? If not, you need to learn to see like Jesus saw. Jesus looked beyond the superficial aspects of daily living. He saw people , and He was moved with compassion. We not only need to see like Jesus, we also need to hear like Jesus. Matthew 20:29-34 states: As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted 10 TORCH / Spring 2002 did not see the crowds like Jesus did. Why was that? Weren’t these men in a position to perceive the needs of the people around them? They were, but they were personally distracted and spiritually blinded. Even those of us engaged in the administration of a Christian institution can become distracted. We can become so focused on the academic aspects of this institution that we miss all the personal needs of the people we serve. We miss opportunities for personal discipling and spiritual mentoring when we fail to behold the real humanness of the people around us. Consequently, we can lose touch and experience failure in ministry. Another distraction is our own theological arrogance. Those of us who believe in the sovereignty of God have no excuse when arrogance characterizes our lives. If anyone should have a sense of humility, it should be those of us who understand the extent of the grace of God. My warning to all is that we not get so caught up in our own understandings of the original languages and our grasp of theology that we fail to have compassionate eyes. Jesus was the ultimate theologian, but He always saw people, and He always saw their needs. We can also see with cultural eyes and not have eyes of compassion. Here I am referring to our peculiar How to Have Christlike Compassion The only way for our vision to adequately see the culture around us is for us to see like Jesus. Matthew 9:35-38 states “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them …”. The Latin word for compassion is taken from two words: com , meaning “with,” and patheo , which means “suffering.” The idea conveyed is that displaying compassion is to put yourself in the same position as those who are suffering. Biblical compassion is a very deep experience. That’s where most of us miss it. Many go through life interacting with others on a very superficial basis. To display the compassion of Christ, however, means a willingness to suffer with those who are hurting. Our culture often maligns compassion. Some seem to think that compassion is a feminine characteristic— something women can display, but men cannot. Compassion is not often viewed as a “male” thing. The ultimate male is Jesus. The only perfect man to ever live is Jesus Christ, and the scriptures are full of references to His compassion. Throughout the Gospels it is recorded, “Jesus saw,” and in the light of what Jesus saw, He was moved with compassion. The religious leaders of the day Below: Sometimes those who need help the most are reluctant to ask for it. Individuals suffering from ill health offer opportunities for mercy and compassion. An Adequate Vision An Accurate Ear