Re: Feeling the Suffering of Others
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Pastor
Jul 24, 2012, 11:59:06 AM7/24/12
to carte...@googlegroups.com
I think that a key to Christian response in helping o relieve the
suffering of others is in the scripture you quoted,"love as I have loved
you". We must do it as He would do it, that is, we should be sensitive
never interfere with something God may be doing in someone's life. I'm
aware that God sometimes allows suffering. We are also assured that He is
able to work all things for good to them that love Him. No one can know all
the answers as to why God allows so much suffering in the world, but one
reason is what I call His "higher purpose." Remember the Prodigal? Today,
we'd give him food stamps, etc., just enough help to keep him from ever
coming to himself... and he'd still be in the pig pen.
When I see injustice, hurt, suffering,etc., in others, my immediate
response is to just jump right in and seek some way I can help -- usually, I
strive offer temporal, practical, compassionate help, completely ignoring
their spiritual circumstances. To love AS He has loved us
(unconditionally), we must first be certain to seek God's will, tapping into
the spiritual resources that are available to us, and then, we may even
discover the "higher purpose of God" and be able to truly help "in His
name". After 30+ years of ministry, and dealing with the many benevolence
needs that naturally show up, I still blow it sometimes. I know that
sometimes we entertain angels unawares. I also know that the world is a
training and testing ground, especially for Christians. WOW! it can be so
confusing.
It isn't only the quality of the character of the person suffering
that's perhaps being tested, but the quality of those around them. Every
incidence of suffering is an opportunity for us to show compassion and to
help them overcome their problems to the best of their abilities (not our
abilities). Give a man and you'll feed him for a day; teach him to fish and
you feed him------. The quality of compassion in a person's character shows
up much more clearly when those around them are suffering . Of course,
suffering can lead to a feeling of helplessness and being overwhelmed and
other emotional pain on our part. Yet it may also be an opportunity for
compassion on the part of others; others with better training and resources
who are witnessing the same suffering, or it may provide an inspiration for
others to develop the means of helping them. Could it just be possible
that the "higher purpose of God", in some cases, is to see just how, as
Christians we will respond --- an opportunity for us to grow in grace?
Could it be that when God brings a child (like this) into the world, the
perfection that He seeks is in the way people react to this child? We
definitely need His help.
In God We Trust! (Thanks, Joyce)
Davis
-----Original Message-----
From: Martha Tanner
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 7:43 AM
To: carte...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Feeling the Suffering of Others
I agree. And if we feel it, we will respond to it. I think to see suffering
and do nothing is sin--it separates us from God (who IS love and mercy.)
Someone with the gift of mercy could not ignore suffering (it is "natural"
for them to extend mercy), but even those without that gift are not given
the right to ignore it--we are all told to "love as I have loved you"---and
Jesus alleviated suffering wherever He could as He walked on earth as a man.
I'm afraid it is all too easy for me to just shut my eyes...
----- Original Message -----
From: Davis Lacey II <ela...@ellijay.com>
To: carte...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:14:59 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Feeling the Suffering of Others
People with the Spiritual Gift of Showing Mercy actually identify with
the suffering of others. Flannery O'Connor, an insightful writer, lifted up
the Christian dimension when she wrote: "You will have found Christ when you
are concerned with other people's sufferings and not your own. The
beginning of compassion involves becoming aware of the suffering of others"
Yet, in my humble opinion, it is not enough simply to see the suffering of
others, we need to feel it. It is possible to see suffering, but not to
feel it.
I'm reminded of the story of a photographer who walked down the street
one day and came upon a man who was choking. "What a picture," he thought.
"This says it all: A man, alone, in need. What a message!" He fumbled for
his camera and light meter until the poor fellow who was choking realized
that help was not forthcoming. He grabbed the photographer's arm and gasped,
"I'm turning blue!" "That's O.K.," said the photographer, patting the
fellow's hand, "I'm using color film." (Obviously an old story --
pre-digital aga).
But, don't you agree? Just noticing suffering isn't enough.
Davis
ela...@ellijay.com
www.cartecay.com <http://www.cartecay.com/>
suffering of others is in the scripture you quoted,"love as I have loved
you". We must do it as He would do it, that is, we should be sensitive
never interfere with something God may be doing in someone's life. I'm
aware that God sometimes allows suffering. We are also assured that He is
able to work all things for good to them that love Him. No one can know all
the answers as to why God allows so much suffering in the world, but one
reason is what I call His "higher purpose." Remember the Prodigal? Today,
we'd give him food stamps, etc., just enough help to keep him from ever
coming to himself... and he'd still be in the pig pen.
When I see injustice, hurt, suffering,etc., in others, my immediate
response is to just jump right in and seek some way I can help -- usually, I
strive offer temporal, practical, compassionate help, completely ignoring
their spiritual circumstances. To love AS He has loved us
(unconditionally), we must first be certain to seek God's will, tapping into
the spiritual resources that are available to us, and then, we may even
discover the "higher purpose of God" and be able to truly help "in His
name". After 30+ years of ministry, and dealing with the many benevolence
needs that naturally show up, I still blow it sometimes. I know that
sometimes we entertain angels unawares. I also know that the world is a
training and testing ground, especially for Christians. WOW! it can be so
confusing.
It isn't only the quality of the character of the person suffering
that's perhaps being tested, but the quality of those around them. Every
incidence of suffering is an opportunity for us to show compassion and to
help them overcome their problems to the best of their abilities (not our
abilities). Give a man and you'll feed him for a day; teach him to fish and
you feed him------. The quality of compassion in a person's character shows
up much more clearly when those around them are suffering . Of course,
suffering can lead to a feeling of helplessness and being overwhelmed and
other emotional pain on our part. Yet it may also be an opportunity for
compassion on the part of others; others with better training and resources
who are witnessing the same suffering, or it may provide an inspiration for
others to develop the means of helping them. Could it just be possible
that the "higher purpose of God", in some cases, is to see just how, as
Christians we will respond --- an opportunity for us to grow in grace?
Could it be that when God brings a child (like this) into the world, the
perfection that He seeks is in the way people react to this child? We
definitely need His help.
In God We Trust! (Thanks, Joyce)
Davis
-----Original Message-----
From: Martha Tanner
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 7:43 AM
To: carte...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Feeling the Suffering of Others
I agree. And if we feel it, we will respond to it. I think to see suffering
and do nothing is sin--it separates us from God (who IS love and mercy.)
Someone with the gift of mercy could not ignore suffering (it is "natural"
for them to extend mercy), but even those without that gift are not given
the right to ignore it--we are all told to "love as I have loved you"---and
Jesus alleviated suffering wherever He could as He walked on earth as a man.
I'm afraid it is all too easy for me to just shut my eyes...
----- Original Message -----
From: Davis Lacey II <ela...@ellijay.com>
To: carte...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:14:59 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Feeling the Suffering of Others
People with the Spiritual Gift of Showing Mercy actually identify with
the suffering of others. Flannery O'Connor, an insightful writer, lifted up
the Christian dimension when she wrote: "You will have found Christ when you
are concerned with other people's sufferings and not your own. The
beginning of compassion involves becoming aware of the suffering of others"
Yet, in my humble opinion, it is not enough simply to see the suffering of
others, we need to feel it. It is possible to see suffering, but not to
feel it.
I'm reminded of the story of a photographer who walked down the street
one day and came upon a man who was choking. "What a picture," he thought.
"This says it all: A man, alone, in need. What a message!" He fumbled for
his camera and light meter until the poor fellow who was choking realized
that help was not forthcoming. He grabbed the photographer's arm and gasped,
"I'm turning blue!" "That's O.K.," said the photographer, patting the
fellow's hand, "I'm using color film." (Obviously an old story --
pre-digital aga).
But, don't you agree? Just noticing suffering isn't enough.
Davis
ela...@ellijay.com
www.cartecay.com <http://www.cartecay.com/>
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