As I was browsing
in the internet, trying to figure out what title to use for my article about
compassion, one question just kept lingering in my mind: How is the compassion
of Jesus so related with the compassion of God? It’s worth a try answering this
question, I believe. So I invite you to journey with me in exploring the
relationship between the compassion of Jesus and the compassion of God. This is
not going to be a biblical exposition however, but more on a personal
reflection of a Christian who believes that when temptation of doubt about
God’s compassion comes, the way back into strong faith in God is the compassion
of Jesus.
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The
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines compassion as “sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.”
I see two important aspects in this definition: First, the strong emotion of
sympathy and second, the desire to do something for others. This somehow
explains that compassion is more than just a feeling of sadness because of the
sufferings of others but it is an invitation and even a challenge to do
something concrete in order for the sufferers (others) to find hope. Compassion
therefore is others-centered. The real essence of it lies on the realization
that something must be done in a concrete situation of life, not for the
benefit of oneself, getting praise and people’s admiration, but simply to help
others in need.
In the
Old Testament, God is portrayed as Provider. When the Israelites were wandering
in the desert for forty years after their liberation from Egypt, they were able
to survive because God provided their needs. He was their Protector against
their enemies. And He journeyed with them. “The LORD your God has blessed you
in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this
vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you
have not lacked anything” (Deuteronomy 2:7 New International Version).
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However, in another Old Testament Book, the God of Israel was portrayed as punishing evil-doers. It seems an opposite to His being compassionate. “The LORD's anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone” (Numbers 32:13 New International Version). This seemingly contradictory portrayal of God as compassionate and punisher of evil-doers at the same time may lead us to doubt. I am a sinner, I know that. And so if problems are God’s punishments to me, perhaps I have no right to complain. But God is compassionate. And if compassion as we defined it, is the desire to do something concrete to help others find hope, how can I find hope if my problems are forms of punishments by God to me?
At this point, I hope you understand, that I am not telling you I am angry at God. Nor I am saying that God is not compassionate. I am just trying to lead you to a more personal and deeper reflection on the relationship between the compassion of God with that of Jesus. But to clarify a very urgent point, interpreting the Bible requires more than just reading the text itself. When God is described as angry, what do the sacred authors want to say? Is it really like having a strong emotion of disappointments as we humans do when we are angry? I don’t think so. God may have been portrayed as a punisher of evil-doers and a God who gets angry, not because He hates us when we commit sins, but because He loves us. God’s love is not unjust. According to the Dictionary of Fundamental Theology, “Anthropomorphism is a reference to the divine made through the use of anthropological images. To say that God speaks is already an anthropomorphism” (Latourelle & Fisichella, 1994).
And so this is a style of writing by the sacred authors, to use anthropological images in describing God. After all we know that God hates the sin and not the sinner. This was the prayer of Jesus while hanging on the cross, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 The New American Bible). Click here to continue reading.
Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of the photos used on this post, due credits go to the owners.
However, in another Old Testament Book, the God of Israel was portrayed as punishing evil-doers. It seems an opposite to His being compassionate. “The LORD's anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone” (Numbers 32:13 New International Version). This seemingly contradictory portrayal of God as compassionate and punisher of evil-doers at the same time may lead us to doubt. I am a sinner, I know that. And so if problems are God’s punishments to me, perhaps I have no right to complain. But God is compassionate. And if compassion as we defined it, is the desire to do something concrete to help others find hope, how can I find hope if my problems are forms of punishments by God to me?
At this point, I hope you understand, that I am not telling you I am angry at God. Nor I am saying that God is not compassionate. I am just trying to lead you to a more personal and deeper reflection on the relationship between the compassion of God with that of Jesus. But to clarify a very urgent point, interpreting the Bible requires more than just reading the text itself. When God is described as angry, what do the sacred authors want to say? Is it really like having a strong emotion of disappointments as we humans do when we are angry? I don’t think so. God may have been portrayed as a punisher of evil-doers and a God who gets angry, not because He hates us when we commit sins, but because He loves us. God’s love is not unjust. According to the Dictionary of Fundamental Theology, “Anthropomorphism is a reference to the divine made through the use of anthropological images. To say that God speaks is already an anthropomorphism” (Latourelle & Fisichella, 1994).
And so this is a style of writing by the sacred authors, to use anthropological images in describing God. After all we know that God hates the sin and not the sinner. This was the prayer of Jesus while hanging on the cross, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 The New American Bible). Click here to continue reading.
Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of the photos used on this post, due credits go to the owners.
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