Can We Witness with Jesus Style Empathy?

      Shelley and I like to read to each other. Each of us will be reading a book word for word, and then periodically will share passages and pages to the other person. It really becomes like we both have read both books, because we are sharing the depth and substance of the material. We really enjoy Christian books that are based on understanding our identity in Christ, and how we can strive toward the destiny God gave us.
      She and I are the kinds of people who really want to make a difference for the kingdom. The enemy has put a lot of barriers in front of us to make us ineffective. The devil has many schemes to take us off track to live a life that is totally self-absorbed, focused just on survival, or on trying to get pleasure every day. A life of partying, and nothing much else can ensue. Both of us have lived for long periods of time where we weren’t living for the Lord. Through His redemption and forgiveness, He gently helped us come back to a daily walk with Him. What a sovereign creator we worship amen?
      Through this, we have grown to understand that He has a purpose for all of us who know Him to make a difference for others. We also have compassion for those who don’t know what living for God is. We know what it is like, and how subtle the pulling away from Him is. Junky movies, junky TV, junky food, promiscuous sex, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking pot, or taking other drugs, etc. all becomes the stuff that we crave daily, and habitually becomes the substance of our life. It replaces understanding the excitement of prayer, being in a praise and worship service, reading the bible. All of the things of the spirit seem mundane, and no fun when the flesh is in control. But thank God for the ways that He is constantly trying to reach us even in the midst of living a life where sin rules.
      The Lord puts sermons, Christian people, and miracles right in the middle of our vacant life to remind us that He is real and loving, and He alone will fill the hole in our heart. Can we witness to others with this kind of empathy? If we didn’t ever stray away from the Lord, never have had a prodigal experience, can we open our hearts to be compassionate to those who have, or to those who have never known the Lord. Some Christians I see don’t have that ability much at all.
      We have one close Christian friend who is trying to help Christians have a more loving message to those they argue the abortion issue with. She is also trying to save unborn lives by working for organizations that educate about the perils of going through with one.  She had an abortion many years ago, so she knows firsthand the emotional pain.  She is very understanding of the people who don’t know anything but what they have been told about going ahead with the decision to have one. I admire her boldness to engage with both believers and unbelievers in this conversations, because she gets hit with criticism from complete strangers on both sides. But I believe that she is demonstrating an example of an authentic Christian walk. Yes, it's a touchy issue.  It gets messy as does ministry in many ways.  But God's work can't be done without action and the trials that come along with facing satan head on.  This is the way that Jesus lived His life. He was accused of being a drunk, hanging out with sinners, etc. He was betrayed, beaten, and bloodied.  That's how evil is.  But he won.  He told those who didn't understand, “it is the sick who need a doctor.”
      The true difference for reaching unbelievers is helping them realize that God knows their struggle. If we come across as if we don’t know their struggle, then How does that become the “salt and light” that Jesus said we are? God is light. We are made in His image and likeness. We are to reflect His true nature. He sent His only son to die for us in His incredible empathy for our struggle against sin. We then must remember how much mercy has been shown on us, by then being the most merciful people on the earth. I read today’s paper about the sentencing of a drunk driver who killed 4 people near my house last January. One of the family members who spoke to him in the emotion filled court-room said that they forgive him because their Christian faith commands and leads them to do this. How stunningly powerful!
      I don’t think there is any other religion or faith walk where anyone would do this under those circumstances. But the Spirit of the Living God will certainly cause the heart to rise above the noise of the flesh, and cause the sweet song of Amazing Grace to ring in the air once again, as it has millions of times since the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This grace can be reflected through us, and our ability to have the compassion that says, “I understand your sin, because I too have fallen short of God’s glory. So the best way I can help you is to demonstrate the salvation He has given to me, by being compassionate to you when you know you don’t deserve it. Then you might understand who Jesus really is, and it is through Him alone, that you will receive eternal life.”