Compassion anyone?

1 John 1:5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.



I think that there is a common misconception amongst non-Christians that the Christian thinks that he is perfect. We have in scripture here a verse that tells us quite the opposite. The Christian has not been made perfect and will continue to sin until he makes it home to glory. There should be a difference though. We should be humbly striving toward the goal of becoming more Chist like every day. We should be desiring Christ and pursuing Him every day. We will still slip up, but we need to make sure that we recognize when we have slipped and turn away from that behavior.



The problem

I think that the biggest problem we have in reaching out to the lost is our attitudes. The reflection of our attitudes can be seen in the misconception I noted above. How did the non-Christian come to the conclusion that the Christian thinks he is perfect unless he was led to believe that by the Christian? Have you ever led someone to believe that you are above temptation? That maybe sinning was beneath you? Do we not still struggle with many of the same issues that others struggle with? Certainly through Christ we can overcome temptation, but we should not be looking down our nose at it as if we have never had the same problems.



The solution

We should be reaching out to the lost with compassion. This means that we should be suffering with them. Do you have sorrow over your own sins? Then why would you not also grieve over the sins of your brother? Do not pretend to be above it all. Reach out to them in compassion and understanding and they will recognize the love within you and get a glimpse of the love of the Father.



Our attitude should be like David in Psalm 51:

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.



If we took this attitude perhaps more people would understand that we are not condemning them. Or maybe you are condemning them? Think about it.



Peace, Bruce