a spiritual oasis

This is the fifth post in a series focusing on habits of highly effective churches.

To begin with, a bit of contextualization is in order. We are living in consumer-driven times. This impacts the Christian community in many different ways. One of which has to do with the fact that not a few church shoppers expect to be served rather than to serve. This is a crucial concept for us to consider. As Marva Dawn observes, “Rather than being a vendor of religious goods and services that caters to people’s tastes, the Church is called to be a body of people sent on a mission.”

Against this backdrop, I am persuaded that we are called to embrace the mission of Christ. In spite of the fact discussions about “missional living” are of recent origins, this is the way it has always been. I believe you will find the Friend of Missional web site quite informative in this regard. It is my hope that this post will make a small contribution to this discussion. Now let’s consider habit # 5 of highly effective churches: Engaging in our community as a community showing the compassion of Christ for those who are in need.

Who cares about
the meaning of splanchnizomai?

This reading taken from Jack Deere’s “Surprised by the Power of the Spirit” should help us understand why it is that we would want to be numbered amongst those who care about the meaning of this Greek word.

The most common verb used in the Greek New Testament to refer to God’s compassion is . This verb is used twelve times. Once it is used of the Samaritan’s compassion for the wounded man (Luke 10:33) The other eleven occurrences refer to God’s compassion. In two separate parables Jesus uses this verb to refer to God’s compassion in saving and forgiving sinners (Matthew 18:27 and Luke 15:20).

The remainder of the uses of this verb reveal that compassion was the major motivation for Jesus’ healing and miracles. So in nine out of eleven occurrences where this verb is used of God’s compassion it refers to the compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ as his motivation for healing!

The choice of splanchnizomai to refer to God’s compassion is compelling. The nominal form of this word originally referred to the inner parts of a man, the heart, liver, and so on. It could be used of the inward parts of a sacrificial animal, but it became common to use this word in reference to the lower parts of the abdomen, the intestines, and especially the womb (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, eds. Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich [Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1971] 7:548).

Some theologians have felt that this term was too rough or graphic to be used in reference to God’s compassion. Using the word for “intestines” to refer to God’s compassion is akin to our using the word “guts” for courage in modern English, as when we say, “He really has guts!”

However, I think the New Testament writers meant to do exactly this. They were impressing on the readers the power and the force of God’s compassion. They may also have had in mind a physical feeling associated with compassion. Sometimes a sharp pain in the abdomen will accompany intense feelings of compassion or pity for those we love. The choice of such a graphic word served to impress the New Testament Christians that God’s compassion for them was rooted in his deep love for them and his sensitivity to their pain.

So, what does compassion look like?

By definition: It is clear by the preceding that compassionate service is loving ministry, which is deeply rooted in godly sympathy and intended to bring needed relief and comfort.

The Compassion of Christ… One of the most prominent features of the life of Christ is His compassion. He was compassionate for the weary and heavy-laden, Matthew 11:28-30; weak in faith, Isaiah 40:11; 42:3; Matthew 12:20; tempted, Hebrews 2:18; afflicted, Luke 7:13; John 11:33, 35; diseased, Matthew 14:14 and Mark 1:41; shepherd-less, Mark 6:34; poor, Mark 8:2; and perishing sinners, Matthew 9:36; Luke 19:41; and John 3:16.

The Compassion of Christians… Those who are adherents of or to Christ, Christians by name, function at our finest when we emulate His character. Nothing could be finer than for those who choose to adhere to Christ’s will and way to give themselves to bringing relief and comfort to those who are in need. In the Scriptures we see this lived out in two ways. Here are a few examples of these:

1) Corporate expressions of Christ-like compassion– Acts 2:43-46; 6:1ff; 11:29-30; Romans 15:25-26; 2 Corinthians 8 - 9 and Galatians 2:10.

2) Individual expressions of Christ-like compassion– Acts 4:34-37; 9:36-38; and 1 Timothy 1:16-18.

Such compassion is faith working through love by sharing the bounty of God’s blessings as we cooperate with one another in Christ-like service to others. This is a very tangible means of letting our lights shine for the glory of God, whether we do this individually or corporately! Additionally, involvement in our communities as a community of believers lovingly showing the compassion of Christ for those who are in need, is a great way of letting the world know that God cares.

Ultimately, it boils down to deciding to seek the Lord’s will first in our lives by responding positively to such admonitions as we find in 1 Peter 3:8. Here we read, “…All of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”

© Bill Williams
2008.04.04