<\/p>\n
Holy Scripture contains dozens and dozens of passages encouraging believers to be kind, helpful, hospitable, generous, merciful, and compassionate. Here are just a few examples:<\/p>\n
Martin Luther summarized the spirit of these passages in his explanation to the Fifth Commandment. Regarding our neighbor, he says, \u201cHelp and befriend him in every bodily need.\u201d When we see our neighbor in need, whether he is a believing child of God or a callous unbeliever, we are to help him. The Spirit\u2019s words given through Paul\u2019s pen are clear: As we have opportunity, let us do good\u202fto all people, especially to those who belong to the family\u202fof believers (Galatians 6:10).<\/p>\n
The discussion could end right there. However, considering the history of compassion ministry in the Wisconsin Synod, it seems wise to say a little more. Many WELS pastors remember the warning offered by well-meaning seminary professors: The mission of the church is to preach the gospel; be careful that you don\u2019t get distracted by social programs<\/em>. The term \u201csocial programs\u201d was used as a synonym for what we today would call compassion ministry or mercy ministry. There was a reason for this warning. Many churches and church bodies have become distracted by efforts to \u201cmake the world a better place.\u201d They have become so bogged down in various social programs and political agendas that the simple proclamation of law and gospel is scarce among them. Obviously, this is something we want to avoid.<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s not a matter of doing one and leaving the other undone. It\u2019s not an either\/or situation but a both\/and situation. God calls us both to proclaim his truth to the lost and to be kind and compassionate to those in need. He commands us to love our neighbor by caring for his needs, soul and<\/em> body. Not only are these two directives not in conflict with each other, but one supports the other. Showing kindness and compassion to those in need often breaks down barriers and opens ears to the proclamation of the gospel. Jesus talked about this in his famous Sermon on the Mount: \u201cLet your light shine before others,\u202fthat they may see your good deeds\u202fand glorify\u202fyour Father in heaven\u201d (Matthew 5:16). Peter later echoed our Savior\u2019s words: Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds\u202fand glorify God\u202fon the day he visits us (1 Peter 2:12).<\/p>\n There\u2019s an old saying that may be helpful here: People don\u2019t care how much you know until the know how much you care<\/em>. If people think that you don\u2019t really care about them, they won\u2019t listen to you. They won\u2019t want anything to do with you. Who could blame them? But when they see in both your actions and your attitude a commitment to help them in their need, they are more willing to hear you out. A relationship of trust has been established. You have, in a sense, earned the right to talk to them. Then you can share with them, gently and respectfully, the reason for your hope in Christ (1 Peter 3:15).<\/p>\n So, why do we carry out a ministry of compassion? We don\u2019t do it because it feels good, though it often does. We don\u2019t do it to look better in the eyes of others, though caring for those in need certainly can improve one\u2019s reputation. We don\u2019t do compassion ministry for personal glory or selfish gain. We do it for the glory of God alone, in thanks for his compassionate love that saved us. We do it for the benefit of precious souls for whom our Lord Jesus willingly shed his priceless blood. In short, we show compassion because our God is full of compassion.<\/p>\n May the Lord in his grace bless our every effort to show compassion to those who need it!<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Holy Scripture contains dozens and dozens of passages encouraging believers to be kind, helpful, hospitable, generous, merciful, and compassionate. Here are just a few examples: Matthew 25:34-36: \u202f\u201cThen the King will say to those on his right, \u2018Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom\u202fprepared for you since the creation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20276,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[5580,1108,290],"class_list":["post-20275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-daily-verse","tag-compassion","tag-ministry","tag-wels"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20275"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20275\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}