Christian Family Services Ministry

8-9-2019 – A Word to the Wise – A study of COMPASSSION AND EMPATHY
What is compassion? How is it connected to empathy? We, I suspect will find some very certain truths about Jesus when we examinee these two forces.
We will use simple definitions and make a clear distinction between the two. Compassion is an action word that reflects physical action towards others, in a manner which relieves pain, suffering or discontent. Empathy in contrast is a word which is being used here to reflect passivity and emotion. Thus one active the other passive.
Compassion has the distinction of being at the top of the list of character qualities highly esteemed and accounts for increased length of life. It is the ability to see the needs of another and to meet those needs. The emphasis here is on the desire to act to intervene in the affairs of men.
In sharp contrast empathy is a strict emotion with no indication or reference to physical action. It is the emotional experience that arouse from the heart and to various degrees evident in mood and effect.
These are the simple descriptions of these two traits that will be reflected in our study. (For the biblical scholars the key Strong word for compassion in Hebrew is rhm , or 7355, the Greek is eleeo or 5806). There is no particular word for empathy.
However, definitions do not point us in the direction we wish to explore rather the events and moods present in scripture. Those will be our teacher. Our chief focus will be on Jesus with emphasis on his healing ministry.
First let’s consider compassion. Often it appears with no empathy is present. This means what occurs is a strict action or compassion on Jesus part.
Lk. 8:40 ff tells us of a woman who has been ill 12 years. She approaches Jesus unbeknownst to him, touching his garment and is healed. The only interaction occurring is after this act of compassion.
Mt. 14:36 gives a similar account where many are healed simply by touching Jesus garment again no personal interaction.
In contrast let’s see samples where empathy on Jesus part occurs. Lk. 7 recounts the story of a sick centurion’s servant and how Jesus is called upon to help. The pathos of the situation is evident in the plea for help and Jesus response.
Another time John 5 relates the account where Jesus focus attention on a man who had been sick some 38 years. Empathy is apparent in the choice since the man did not approach Jesus. The same occurs in John 9 with a man born blind. Again we find Jesus approaching the person.
These are samples of the situations where compassion and empathy are to be distinguished.
Now what is to be discovered? One more element is to be added to illuminate what is occurring. Remember the event in Mark 2 where a paralytic is let down through the roof to be healed? Well it is the sentence Jesus uses “which is easier” healing or forgiving? The implication here is that it cost Jesus to heal. Cost what? Not money, or something tangible rather it cost him energy, or power.
Our tendency is to think it is all free there is no price to pay. That is not so. Which do you think is more expensive, compassion, or empathy? Two short passages answer.
Compassion: 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.(RSV)
Empathy: 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, (KJV)
Which is the higher price?
Society understands the importance of acquiring compassion and empathy. For some time now there are programs in prisons dedicated to teaching offenders empathy. The hope being once the person learns to feel what the victim feels they will stop offending. To say the least these programs only have partial success.
It is not that compassion and empathy cannot be taught, in fact on occasion sociopaths and psychopaths may exhibit signs of compassion. It just seems that it goes deeper than that. There is something deeper than just technical attributes.
Something else. I believe Jesus left us a pattern for how we are to treat others with compassion, however empathy is a different matter. Empathy is not a lesson to be taught, compassion is on the other hand teachable
Remember that phrase in Mt 26:53 think not my Father would send 12 legions of angels? Who is it written to? Often the answer is to the disciples
However, I think Jesus was telling the Father he knew the power He could weld…just don’t. The empathy between the Son and father is complete Jesus knew His Father wanted to send those 12 legions of angels to rescue his Son the Father must have had enough. “Don’t Father, let it be.
All of this is to say we miss the mark when we suppose the pattern for us is empathy towards our fellow man.
No! Our pattern for empathy is that between the Father and Son. That is what the Lord desires. Our feelings are to unit with that of the Father and Jesus. The resulting feelings is what is to guide His followers.
We should copy the lesson of compassion Jesus patterns for us and apply it to our fellowman. But the lessons of empathy patterned as displayed between Father and Son that is our ultimate goal.
This is why true empathy is not experienced or learned by looking at human experiences, rather at divinity.
Jesus at the grave of Lazarus. Jesus in the garden with blood rolling down His face. Now that is empathy. Are you able to experience those feelings? That is the pattern for empathy. Do not confuse it with empathy for ones fellowman. This is indeed holy ground. Treat it as such.

8-2-2019 – A Word to the Wise – Terror as a Weapon

Both the Lord and Satan use terror as a weapon. Satan uses it to strike fear in the hearts of men in order to render them helpless or passive in the face of the enemy. This is how the Egyptians were able to control the Israelites in captivity. This is how each of the enemies in the book of Judges overwhelmed and controlled the people. This is how Hitler was able to murder six million Jews and ten million Christians, by striking terror in men’s hearts. The results of Satan’s’ tactics can last for days, months, years, and on rare occasion generations but usually a few months..

God terrorizes differently with startling results. Whereas Satan’s terror tactics tend to be temporary God’s last from generations to forever! Example the world wide flood is still being talked about today some 8,000 years later. It is estimated that one hundred and thirty- two nations have handed down generation by generation some kind of story related to the deluge and its 3 billion victims.
The effects of the language barrier created by the Lord at Babel six thousand or more years ago still last to this day. The enemies of the Israelites hundreds of years later were still talking about the battle of the Red Sea and how their God accomplished the destruction of the Egyptians.
Serving on the battle line in the Lord’s army each warrior must know to the very depths of his being these words:
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:10-13)
This shield protects the heart. In the 50 years of counseling and police work I have been assaulted verbally and physically numerous times. When the first tentacles of fear grip my heart I turn to this passage. A warrior must understand that the Commander will preserve those that belong to Him.