Genuine Christian Compassion

Only when we are willing to respond to persons of whatever background and however victimized, with all that we can do, do we show genuine Christian compassion.

Luke 10:30-37 tells the story that we have come to call "The Parable of the Good Samaritan." In it, a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho fell into the hands of 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, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins 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."

Many of us are only willing to show compassion towards those we know, love, or who have or can show compassion towards us, and even then, we have limits on how far we will go. Twice persons of high standing in the religious and civic communities passed by the victim on the Jericho Road: a priest and a Levite. The wounded man was naked and speechless and therefore his identity, his status, his social class could not be ascertained. So they passed him by. This is worldly callousness and not of Christ.

But a Samaritan, one of a lower class, from an ostracized group, saw only a person in need, and regardless of his tribe or clan he provided for him all that he needed. This is true compassion.

What should be the limit on how far I/we must go to show such Christian compassion today, in this world, in our own community? For us to truly be obedient to Christ's call to show genuine Christian compassion to each other, we must be willing to, first, provide as much help as there is hurt. In the story, the victimized man was left half dead. This indicates that he needed a lot of attention, more that the two "religious" individuals were willing to provide. The Samaritan, on the other hand made sure all of the man's present and future needs were taken care of. Second, we must do as much as needs doing and stay as long as we need stay. The condition of some victims is more serious than others and takes more resources and more time than others. We must all be willing to take the time needed to completely minister to hurt people's needs and we must be willing also to do as much as needs doing. Finally, you must be willing to go as far as God's love will take you. God gave His all for us. He expects us to give our all for each other. Just as there are no limits or boundaries on His love for us, so must there not be limits and boundaries on our love for our neighbor.

Love is an action word. We show our love for God through genuine Christian compassion for each other.