"Compassion is the basis of morality."
~ Arthur Schopenhauer Sometimes we see pure and clear evidences of God in the world; at other times they come into our lives when we least expect them.
Let me explain...
Last week, I witnessed a church actively feed and engage the homeless in a city park.
They were given as much as they wanted to eat, stayed as long as they desired and even were given 'take home' meals for the weekend if the individual felt they needed it.
No questions asked, just come and partake; I have never seen so many people with so little look as if they were so blessed.
And the wonderful thing about this entire activity was that every person who were a part of the church involved in this ministry was actively engaged with the homeless, showing them compassion and love.
How many of the Church members had tattoos? Or were divorced? Or had used drugs in the past? Or had been delivered from any number of sins not considered 'respectable' by society?
It didn't matter because Jesus had redeemed them all through His blood and by His grace and was now using those same people to touch others greatly in need of His love.
The Church itself was not there because it was just a 'church ministry,' or something they felt they were obligated to do.
No...ministry, true ministry in Christ's name will not work in such a manner.
The people of the Church were there because they wanted those who were less fortunate and hurting to be touched by the hand of Christ.
They succeeded.
At the same Church, I saw adult men and women with mental disabilities welcomed into worship on a beautiful Sunday morning.
In the past, I have seen people with Down's Syndrome, Autism or some other disability become spectacles or treated as 'second class' citizens.
No church would ever admit as much, but many Christians have been shamed by their own hidden feelings in this area; the church I attended last Sunday opened these children of God with open arms - knowing each had a story in their past and a hope with Christ in the future.
In one instance, within the last week, I took part in a prayer that was given with our hands joined in the middle of his business with his family for God's blessing on the day.
At another time, I was able to be spiritually fed in the home Bible study of a person whom I had just recently met.
God was allowed to live through His followers and touch others in the world with His compassion and grace.
In all these things, Jesus was present, active and dispensing grace.
Like the disciples after the resurrection, if you are looking with faithful eyes, we never know where Jesus will turn up in our lives.
And when He does, there is a familiar pleasantness about it.
When Jesus was physically on the earth, our world was a much better place; if only for a short time in one particular region.
But when Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples were left looking around, not really knowing what to do; they were wanting some clue or direction as to how they should carry forward.
Most people have been in the same predicament in life - their world suddenly changes and they no longer know what to do because normalcy has radically changed.
From Jesus' perspective, it could be compared to a soldier or Airman returning home from war; there would be a pleasant familiarity about entering the heavenly corridors.
Yet, by leaving earth, Jesus risked being forgotten; He left no earthly reminder such as temples or books He'd written.
Instead, Jesus left the world the most unpredictable thing He could have left - people entrusted to carry forward His message of hope and grace.
The modern question, whenever we face trials, temptations, tragedies, sicknesses, diseases and death is the same - 'Where is God?'
Nobody asked that question when they saw Jesus on the earth because they knew God had stepped out of eternity and was among them; nor did they ask if God cared about them.
Yet, it is a valid question for a generation of people who desire the hole in their heart to be filled.
Modern man has picked up on current philosophy with his answer, thinking that the landlord has left the building permanently.
And at times, many Christians are tempted to believe it because we have short memories concerning the blessings of God and long grudges when it comes to the hurtfulness and pain we suffer at the hands of others.
But God has not abandoned us; yes, Jesus has ascended and we are awaiting His return, but until then, God has chosen to take on less obvious forms.
While we may say He has disguised Himself, Scripture shows us where we can find God...in the 'least of these.'
Matt 25:40-46 (RSV)
40 And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' 45 Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
I am sorry to say that I know Christians who consider themselves 'righteous' or 'Godly' and yet, those same people abhor the 'least of these.'
Those that are the 'least of these' are the avenue by which we may entertain angels unaware; it is also connected in some spiritual way to the evidence of salvation in our hearts.
To put it bluntly, if a Christian cannot detect God's presence in this world through their normal activities in life, then their activities need to change because you are looking in all the wrong places for God's hand to be moving.
Sadly, many Christians miss the whole point of being Christ's body in the world; we are to touch others as He would touch them - in love, compassion and grace.
We often hear people say things like, 'Why does God allow these homeless/poor/mentally disabled/beggars...fill in the blank....?"
But we never hear someone turn the question around and ask the critic, 'Well, if you want something done to help, why don't you do it?'
In the words of another, 'Where is God when it hurts?'
The better question is, 'Where is the Church when it hurts,' because we, the church, were entrusted to be His hands and heart in this hurting world.
And this brings me to the point I've been driving to since the beginning.
Why is it that we don't look more like the Church Jesus described?
Why do protesters carry signs against churches and church organizations instead of thousands coming to our support?
Why can't we be of 'one mind, one faith and one baptism?'
The answer is that we are all fallen human beings; we are all part of the problem.
Whether it be during the Crusades or the Inquisition or Christians involved in the Slave Trade or even a deacon in a local church pursuing a personal lust for power, we are all part of the problem because every Christian has the old nature we are desperately fighting in our souls.
Yet, the better question is, 'Why do I so poorly resemble Jesus?'
And it is a question each of us should ask ourselves, for the problem of the Body of Christ is no greater than one solitary Christian.
Thus...is the need for the grace, mercy, love and compassion of our Lord.
We need to stop putting the good works of God off on somebody else, some other church,some other time - we need to start being God's hands of grace in this fallen world and touch the hurting, homeless and hungry.
Until next time, win one for the good guys.
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