Compassion is not meant to be a complex word. Traditionally it is a sympathetic response and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others despite the victim’s default to wrongdoing.
Is it reasonable to say you love someone but hate what they represent or how they behave? Certainly. Matthew 5 says it best above. Ah but the flesh loves to rebel, loves to insist it’s rift right, loves to win an argument. But at what cost? We may win the argument but lose the soul. Tragic. However we must defend truth even when it offends. I’m convinced there is a healthy balance in there somewhere.
When it comes to leaders, particularly Presidents, if we decide to refute their positions, we fight the lies without defaming the leader. That has been my key play. This way the leader stays engaged while we have time to defend the Truth.
As a young man in my 20's, God gave me an assignment in response to a prayer. He said "You need to learn to love the unlovable." Well, that seemed to be a daunting almost impossible task! After contemplating this assignment and how to possibly approach this work, I had to ask "How do I start, where do I start to learn this?". He immediately responded, "At the Cross". At that point, everything fell into place, and I was able to begin.
Much later, I became acquainted with the witness of Corrie ten Boom, the Dutch woman who was the author of "The Hiding Place". She hazarded her life and the life of her family by hiding and delivering many Jews. After WWII, she ministered to the survivors of the holocaust, including the guards and government minions who had so cruelly mistreated and killed so many. She had to learn how to love the unlovable. Her story is well worth reading.
When I see the politicians on TV or social media, I see slaves - yes they are enslaved, both spiritually and physically. During the presidential campaign, it was clear that Joe Biden was being subject to elder abuse, which continues today.
I have come to understand by studying the Bible and history, that those people who unjustly wield earthy power over others are on very unstable ground. They are ministering great spiritual calamity to themselves and their families. Events can change so quickly that they can find themselves on the wrong side of the keys, or the interrogation room.
Our love for the unlovable is based on the foundation of our loving relationship with God. Our response to this love is to love others as he would have us love them. The specifics are imparted as we are guided by the gift of holy spirit. In this way, it is possible to love the unlovable without regards to their response. Thus, we can approach loving the unlovable from a position of Godly strength and ask, "How does God want me to show His love to this person?" Understand that the impact of this love depends upon the response of the person.
It’s been a few days already since “Compassion in Action” was posted, only (3 Likes) indicated, so far, one of them from me. But in my case, I didn’t leave one (❤️) after the first read, because I didn’t. My thoughts, I think, were trapped, like bare-feet on hot asphalt, by a notion conveyed within an image, gelled early in the form of a first-impression, one I couldn’t align with,
“I Love You ... Joe ...”. Sorry, but no... I don’t.
If “Judging a Book by its Cover” was some-kind of syndrome, I think I may have been auto-immune-ally internally barred from tapping ❤️ due to a flare up🤔
I also strongly suspect, I’m in a large pool of good company experiencing that initial response.
But:
The post, like a ghost, will haunt you, if you dare only hit it with a dismissive-stick and run.
So suggest everyone, please read it carefully, read it again, perhaps again, pause and pounder often, an important cleverly wrapped package of pearls are written there to remind and reinforce one of the highest purposes of our very being. 😇
Kerry, thank you for your honesty. I think that "large pool" is the norm for most believers today. I get that - believe me. God's love is a great mystery to me. It bends my mind to know that our Lord reaches us amid the horrific sins we commit. I often think about Paul, who, before he was converted through Jesus, was a murderer & a self-righteous Jew. Would I have said I loved him as he was killing my friends? Consequently, Jesus would face me with the same lesson as being required to love President Joe Biden. Ouch! Truth always hurts when I am running away from it.
Is it reasonable to say you love someone but hate what they represent or how they behave? Certainly. Matthew 5 says it best above. Ah but the flesh loves to rebel, loves to insist it’s rift right, loves to win an argument. But at what cost? We may win the argument but lose the soul. Tragic. However we must defend truth even when it offends. I’m convinced there is a healthy balance in there somewhere.
When it comes to leaders, particularly Presidents, if we decide to refute their positions, we fight the lies without defaming the leader. That has been my key play. This way the leader stays engaged while we have time to defend the Truth.
I would enjoy reading your comments.
An excellent subject, well worth reading.
As a young man in my 20's, God gave me an assignment in response to a prayer. He said "You need to learn to love the unlovable." Well, that seemed to be a daunting almost impossible task! After contemplating this assignment and how to possibly approach this work, I had to ask "How do I start, where do I start to learn this?". He immediately responded, "At the Cross". At that point, everything fell into place, and I was able to begin.
Much later, I became acquainted with the witness of Corrie ten Boom, the Dutch woman who was the author of "The Hiding Place". She hazarded her life and the life of her family by hiding and delivering many Jews. After WWII, she ministered to the survivors of the holocaust, including the guards and government minions who had so cruelly mistreated and killed so many. She had to learn how to love the unlovable. Her story is well worth reading.
When I see the politicians on TV or social media, I see slaves - yes they are enslaved, both spiritually and physically. During the presidential campaign, it was clear that Joe Biden was being subject to elder abuse, which continues today.
I have come to understand by studying the Bible and history, that those people who unjustly wield earthy power over others are on very unstable ground. They are ministering great spiritual calamity to themselves and their families. Events can change so quickly that they can find themselves on the wrong side of the keys, or the interrogation room.
Our love for the unlovable is based on the foundation of our loving relationship with God. Our response to this love is to love others as he would have us love them. The specifics are imparted as we are guided by the gift of holy spirit. In this way, it is possible to love the unlovable without regards to their response. Thus, we can approach loving the unlovable from a position of Godly strength and ask, "How does God want me to show His love to this person?" Understand that the impact of this love depends upon the response of the person.
Well said, Keith. Loved your comment. By the way, Corrie ten Boom was my spiritual grandmother. I miss her every day.
It’s been a few days already since “Compassion in Action” was posted, only (3 Likes) indicated, so far, one of them from me. But in my case, I didn’t leave one (❤️) after the first read, because I didn’t. My thoughts, I think, were trapped, like bare-feet on hot asphalt, by a notion conveyed within an image, gelled early in the form of a first-impression, one I couldn’t align with,
“I Love You ... Joe ...”. Sorry, but no... I don’t.
If “Judging a Book by its Cover” was some-kind of syndrome, I think I may have been auto-immune-ally internally barred from tapping ❤️ due to a flare up🤔
I also strongly suspect, I’m in a large pool of good company experiencing that initial response.
But:
The post, like a ghost, will haunt you, if you dare only hit it with a dismissive-stick and run.
So suggest everyone, please read it carefully, read it again, perhaps again, pause and pounder often, an important cleverly wrapped package of pearls are written there to remind and reinforce one of the highest purposes of our very being. 😇
Kerry, thank you for your honesty. I think that "large pool" is the norm for most believers today. I get that - believe me. God's love is a great mystery to me. It bends my mind to know that our Lord reaches us amid the horrific sins we commit. I often think about Paul, who, before he was converted through Jesus, was a murderer & a self-righteous Jew. Would I have said I loved him as he was killing my friends? Consequently, Jesus would face me with the same lesson as being required to love President Joe Biden. Ouch! Truth always hurts when I am running away from it.