Why is he mediocre?

In the past few blogs I mentioned some of the struggles Christians have which make us more like the "Mediocre Samaritan" than the "Good Samaritan". It is key that we understand what is holding us back from doing the things God commands. I thought we could try to look into the life of the Mediocre Samaratin to find out what could be holding him back. Likely we are struggling with the same things.

I think the Mediocre Samaritan, let's call him Sam for short, might be struggling with understanding what the command means or how to live it out (love your neighbor as yourself). Compassion ministry is not always easy to put into practice. Sam could easily be questioning how much of of his time and resources he should give?

I mean, how much free time and should we have? Should I ever take a beach vacation while others are without a place to live? Should I ever spend money on unnecessary things (pez dispensers, eating at Outback, unleavened bread, etc.) while other people are going hungry? Where do we draw the line? Is there a line to be drawn?

Fear can also play a part. Sam could be afraid that he is being taken advantage of by the guy lying on the road. I mean what if he got himself into this mess? Maybe he was afraid he wouldn't know how to comfort him. He isn't particularly good at that kind of thing. Maybe he was afraid that he could get hurt by the same group that left this guy for dead.

It can be scary to step out of our comfort zone. Most middle class white folk don't feel comfortable going into poor black communities to minister. We also have the thought people could be out to take advantage of us. We are skeptical, fearful that we won't do the right thing.

Selfishness prohibits most of us from compassion. Sam could easily have had somewhere else to be. Commitments he needed to keep. This guy would slow him down, then once he was better this guy would want to be his pal. That's all Sam needed. One more shmuck to keep up with who would likely need or want something else later down the road.

We are reluctant to give up our free time. Who wants to be helping the elderly lady with yard work when you could be playing disk golf (sorry Ronnie)? Why would I want to give money to the family at church trying to adopt when I need that money to buy new clothes? I don't want to invite that family over for dinner, they are "different" and it would be awkward.

Apathy. Maybe Sam just didn't want to think about it or think it was necessary. The problem is too big and besides he serves in the children's ministry. Compassion is not for him.

What other ways may be holding you back?

understanding compassion

In my last blog, I began the argument that compassion is not optional. Although, I doubt that many of you would have argued with me on that point, I think we fail to live it out to the extent which we are called. Christians don't have a stellar reputation for loving their neighbor.

You may say that you love your neighbor and likely you do to a degree. But I think we don't truly understand the meaning of compassion. If we did, we would see that we fall well short of the mark. There is much to learn if we want to overwhelm our communities with compassion like the early church.

So, it's not necessarily a lack of desire to follow the command of Jesus, but a lack of understanding the command. I hope to share with you what I am learning about the meaning of compassion. Check back.

Compassion: Who's responsibility is it?

I recently read a good definition for compassion ministry: " To be witnesses of the gospel by opening our hearts to the suffering of another person coupled with the desire and action to relieve it." So who's job is it to do compassion ministry?

Is it ok to say that compassion ministry is not for me? I mean, after, all I'm not cut out for that sort of thing. It just doesn't come NATURAL. Aren't there special roles in the church for those with the gifts and talent for them? It's obvious that not all people are cut out to be worship leaders (just watch American idol). Not all of us have been given the gift of teaching/preaching. So can compassion ministry be delegated to those with the gift and heart for it?

Keller says in his book, Ministries of Mercy, "Mercy to the full range of human needs is such an essential mark of being a Christian that it can be used as a test of true faith. Mercy is not optional or an addition to being a Christian. Rather, a life poured out in deeds of mercy is the inevitable sign of true faith."

I happen to agree with Timothy Keller. Mercy/compassion is not optional for Christians. It's not a role for SOME in the church, but ALL in the church. We are ALL commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves. It may be difficult to do, and it's ok to say that compassion doesn't come naturally...it comes supernaturally. All Christians are being transformed and sanctified through the power that God provides.

The poor and needy are a test; a test I often fail. If you are like me and fail in this area ( I think we all do), pray earnestly that God would give you the ability to love your neighbor. Only by God's strength can we do what He has called us to do.