The Fuel of Compassion

Compassion, according to Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology is:

Image taken from: http://commons.wikimedia.org

That (human) disposition that fuels Acts of kindness and Mercy. So Compassion could be seen as the unleaded petrol in a car which carries two passengers; kindness and mercy.

An historical example of someone showing compassion is Oskar Schindler. Schindler was a Nazi Czech businessman, who used Jewish workers to start a factory in occupied Poland.

Oskar Schindler. Image taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org

As World War II continued, and the fate of the Jews became ever certain, Schindler ceased thinking about his profits. Instead, Schindler had compassion on his Jewish workers, displaying kindness by paying ever increasing amounts of money in bribes to buy more and more Jews to work for him. He is credited with saving approximately 1200 Jewish people from certain death in concentration camps and gas chambers.

Psalm 103 reminds Christians that the Lord is compassionate. It is God the Father’s compassion which fuels his Grace and Mercy through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, to Atone for Sin and to bring us to Salvation.

Picture by Rev Adam Gompertz. (Used with permission) For more information see Revs Art and Revs Classic and Sportscar Event

Christians also believe that they should have compassion towards others, this has led to the formation of many Christian charities which seek to improve the lives of others.

Compassion and Tearfund are examples of Christian Charities which use the fuel of compassion to power their fantastic work.