Streams: The Compassionate Life
The Compassionate Life
“True Godliness does not turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it.” – William Penn
“The road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action” – Dag Hammarskjold
No place is in greater need of people full of the Holy Spirit and divine love than the social arena – the broken world in which we live.
The Social Justice Stream focuses on justice and shalom in all human relationships and social structures.
The 2 Greatest Commandments of Jesus express the integration of the Prayer-filled, Virtuous, Spirit-empowered Life with the Compassionate Life: Love of God compels us into compassionate love of neighbor
In fact, it is Love of God makes love of neighbor possible!
Jesus and the Compassionate Life
Jesus was a man who was a man about compassion and justice.
What greater compassion than coming down from heaven to save sinners! (Romans 5:8)
He declares of himself:
Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus not only lived the compassionate life, but he sets compassion and justice as the standard for righteousness:
Read Matthew 25:31-46
We also read Jesus’ prayer that those that follow him would not be taken out of the world, but would be in it and make a difference!
John 17:15 – My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
James (Jesus’ brother) – we find themes such as: listening and doing, favoritism forbidden, warning to rich oppressors, patience in suffering
And probably his most famous passages found in chapter 2- But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
In the Bible we find three great, recurring themes of justice and compassion…
America’s Sweethearts film Twelve O’Clock High full movie Three Great Themes of Justice
- Mishpat – justice, morality, right, compassionate justice
Deut 10:18 – “He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.
Psalm 103:6 – The LORD performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed.
1 Kings 3:11 – God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,
- Hesed – compassion, loving kindness, steadfast love, God’s unwavering compassion
Hosea 6:6 – For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Lev 19:9-20 (the laws of hesed)
Micah 6:8 – He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
- Shalom – peace, wholeness, unity, balance
Shalom always finds external manifestations! Shalom must effect the way that we live in this world.
We find this vision throughout the Bible from Genesis 1:1 – Revalation 21
The vision of Shalom expressed in Isaiah 2:4 – He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
We then find that there are three areas of life in which we are called to practice mishpat, hesed, and shalom…
Three Great Arenas for Practicing Justice
- Personal Arena
Cannot work for justice and live injustice. There must be a consistency when it comes to our hearts and attitudes. We cannot stand for compassion, yet have an inner attitude that expresses the opposite.
- Social Arena
This is our interpersonal relationships – family, friends, coworkers, neighbors,
Romans 12:18 tells us – “live at peace with everyone”,
The Christian community is to stand as an alternative community of love and justice in this broken and unjust world.
- Institutional Structures
Systemic change, laws, public policy, society, consistent life ethic
“The gospel is a stick of dynamite in the social structure” – Donald Bloesch
William Wilburforce – an example of justice and compassion
Check out the movie Amazing Grace to learn more about William Wilburforce and how he fused his love for God with a love for all people.
The Compassionate Life calls us to…
- A right ordering of society – right relationships and right living
- Make our faith real (James 2:14-25)
- Connect personal and social ethics (integrity)
- Put teeth to our Christian love
- Envision the new heaven and new earth
Some Potential Dangers we may encounter:
- See it as an end in itself – working for justice is not an end in itself, it is a means of bringing God’s kingdom and purposes in this world
- Legalism – think that everyone must do the same things that we do
- Getting too closely aligned with a particular political agenda
Practicing (Praxis – learning and growing through doing)
- Open ourselves up to the idea that God may want to use us in significant ways
- Get the facts
- Become advocates for the powerless and exploited
- Support relief agencies
- Become involved politically (these are spiritual issues not just political party issues)
- Speak out for the poor
- Pray
Online Bonus:
Here a few organizations and resources to help you get started working for God’s justice:
- International Justice Mission
- Bread for the World
- Relevant Magazines Reject Apathy Campaign
- Convoy of Hope
- Blood: Water Mission
Discussion: How do you envision God using you to make difference in this world? How can you get started bringing compassion and justice in practical ways in your everyday life?
These teachings are developed further in the book Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith by Richard Foster.
