Thank you for your responses to the blogs on compassion. I appreciate you taking time to join the conversation. Your varied responses gave me food for thought. 

With permission, the following are several of your responses:

“Love is always a risk. Reaching out can sometimes bring painful returns. When we are led by our hearts, we experience God’s peace. It settles our fears and bolsters our courage. We know that it’s right, no matter if it’s received. When you help, aid, rescue, mend, and uplift others on a regular basis, acts of kindness are natural. It’s who we are as Christians. If we are not doing random acts of kindness regularly, we need to truly examine our hearts.”

~  Peggy Monroe

“I believe the efforts of literally stepping out of your emotions to help, assist, and feel what the other person feels and turn the situation or circumstance to a victorious moment is being compassionate in action.”

~ Cynthia LeFlore

“Sometimes showing compassion can cost you your life, but we (Christians) also need to be reminded it’s worth it. If we don’t; who will. Thanks for keeping it real and relevant. The war is real but like you I believe we can win.”

~ Monica Sterling

“In action it is, the response to the suffering people deal with and compassion should motivate a desire to go out of your way to help with a response of sympathy. What it is not, is one of the hardest things for us to do as Christians and that is to restrain ourselves from condemning others for their sins, or we use their sins to justify our own. (Like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11) who stood and prayed: “ God I thank you that I am not like other people- robbers, evildoers, adulterers or even like this tax collector.”
We become so preoccupied with the major sins of our society that we lose sight of our need to deal with those that we view as small sins or acceptable sins, overlooking our own, like harboring anger, ostracizing others, pride, unthankfulness, and YES JUDGMENTALISM.
Let’s understand that Compassion Action Shows No self-righteousness, No despise and cast No Judgement.”

~ Karvetta Freese

These are hard truths to contemplate, but as Disciples of Christ we must accept the fact that we are in a war and we are soldiers in the army of the Lord. A level of evil has been unleashed in America that we have never seen before. It is bold, arrogant, and determined to destroy all that is good. We can no longer sit back, shake our heads, and hold our hands. We have a mandate from heaven to defeat evil with good. The following is God’s battle plan:

  • “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” – Matt. 5:44, KJV.

  • “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh  and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Eph. 6:10-18, KJV.

In addition to this battle plan, we have powerful weapons: angels encamped about us, the Holy Spirit to counsel us, the Bible to guide us, and the name of Jesus which is above every name.

I believe it is time to take our rightful place on the earth and represent heaven well. I am asking you to join me in a Compassion Campaign: a campaign to show the character of Jesus every day in every possible way. I am not suggesting we be door mats or become victims of abuse. I am saying we can make evil back down with consistently righteous acts. Here is what you can:

  • No more tit-for-tat.

  • Think (or pray) before you speak or act when provoked.

  • Speak words of peace. Sometimes silence is best.

  • Refuse to come down to the level of the provoker in word or deed.

  • Help lonely people: a hug, a smile, a card, or a call goes a long way.

  • Help hurting people: a listening ear and prayer soothes the heart.

  • Daily ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can be an influencer for good over evil.

Are you willing to join the Compassion Campaign? Do you believe good can overcome evil?