The Compassion Of The Church

THE COMPASSION OF THE CHURCH

ACTS 3:1-23

A CHURCH MUST ALWAYS BE KNOWN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD BY IT’S COMPASSION AND LOVE, BOTH FOR THE CHURCH COMMUNITY, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AROUND IT.

THE AREA OF SOCIAL ISSUES IS A VERY TROUBLESOME ISSUE FOR THE CHURCH TODAY. EACH YEAR THERE IS LESS AND LESS RESPECT FOR THE CHURCH FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. SOMETIMES THE CHURCH IS SEEN AS AN OBSTACLE TO PROGRESS BECAUSE OF ITS THEOLOGICAL STAND ON SOCIAL ISSUES.

THE CHURCH IS RESPONSIBLE TO A CERTAIN DEGREE FOR SOME OF THIS THOUGHT.

MORE NEWS STORIES ARE BEING AIRED ON TELEVISION, ON THE INTERNET, AND IN NEWSPAPERS, ABOUT CHURCH LEADERS CONCERNING: SEX SCANDALS

THEFT

ADULTEROUS RELATIONSHIPS

THE PROBLEM BEING THAT THE NEWS MEDIA IS ONLY INTERESTED IN PRINTING NEWS THAT WILL SELL PAPERS AND GET PEOPLE TO WATCH THEIR PROGRAM. VERY LITTLE IS SAID ABOUT THE GREAT WORK FOR SOCIETY THAT MANY CHURCHES ARE DOING. ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE PICTURE IS BEING REPORTED, SO HOW CAN PEOPLE COME TO ANY OTHER CONCLUSION, BUT THAT PUT FORWARD BY THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. THERE IS ENOUGH ON THIS ISSUE THAT WE COULD LOOK AT FOR THE REST OF OUR TIME HERE TODAY, BUT I WANT TO FOLLOW ANOTHER MORE POSITIVE ROAD.

WHILE THE WORLD AROUND US MAY TEND TO DWELL ON THE SOCIAL SCANDALS OF THE CHURCH, LETS NOT FORGET THAT THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE COMPASSION OF THE CHURCH, IS STILL VERY PRESENT IN OUR WORLD TODAY.

IT IS THE CHURCH THROUGH OUR MISSION EFFORTS THAT HAVE HELPED THOSE IN NEED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

THE CHURCH IS ONE OF THE FIRST ORGANIZATIONS TO SEND AID WHEN NATURAL DISASTERS STRIKE.

IT WAS THE CHURCH WHO LED THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD LABOR IN ENGLAND

SOME OF OUR GREAT PROGRAMS HERE IN CANADA WHERE HEADED BY CHRISTIAN MINISTERS:

THE MEDICARE PROGRAM WAS STARTED SO THAT ALL CANADIANS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL HELP. T.C.DOUGLAS (MINISTER)

THE REFORMED PARTY LEADER (PRESTON MMANNING – MINISTER)

I KNOW OF CHURCHES WHO ARE HELPING PEOPLE PAY MORTAGES WHEN THEY FALL BEHIND.

CHURCHES ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS HAVE HAD BENEFIT SUPPERS AND FUNDRAISERS TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED.

WHO KNOWS HOW MANY CHILDREN WERE BLESSED BY PROGRAMS LIKE OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD.

ALL THESE THINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT NESECCARILY GO TO THAT PARTICULAR CHURCH, OR POSSIBLY ANY CHURCH.

I GEAR OUR BENEVOLENT FUND TO HELP THOSE OF OUR CONGREGATION FIRST, WE CAN AND HAVE USED IT TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED.

OFTEN THE GOOD DEEDS OF THE CHURCH TO THE COMMUNITY ARE OVERLOOKED, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE CHURCH IS MORE THAN JUST AN ORGANIZATION LOOKING FOR AN OFFERING.

WE DO MORE THAN JUST FINANCES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MANY TIMES WE MINISTER IN A PROPER WAY. BY THAT I MEAN WE DO NOT BOAST ABOUT IT. CONSEQUENTLY I CANNOT SAY MUCH ON THIS BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW OF THE DRIVES PEOPLE OFFER, THE VISITS THEY SHARE, A COMFORTING NOTE OR A PHONE CALL.

THE CHURCH IS VERY RELEVENT TODAY, AND WE MUST NOT ALLOW THOSE WHO FEEL IT ISN’T TO DISCOURAGE US.

COMPASSION IS THE ESSENCE OF THE GOLDEN RULE.

MATTHEW 7:12: ““DO TO OTHERS WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO DO TO YOU. THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF ALL THAT IS TAUGHT IN THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.”

WE RECOGNIZE THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, AND SO THEREFORE WE REACH OUT TO THEM IN COMPASSION.

IT IS A SAD FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST, BUT WHO ARE MORE COMPASSIONATE TO THEIR FELLOW HUMANS THAN PEOPLE IN SOME CHURCHES. THE FACT IS THAT SOME PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH TREAT THEIR DOGS BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE OF THEIR COMMUNITY. THIS OUGHT NOT TO BE.

AS A CHURCH WE ARE TO EXTEND COMPASSION WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN. DO NOT EXPECT A SLAP ON THE BACK, OR A HANDSHAKE OR HUG FOR DOING A GOOD DEED. WE ARE TO DO THESE DEEDS BECAUSE WE CAN, AND PRESENT CHRIST AS PART OF IT.

YES, PEOPLE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHURCH AND OUR COMPASSION, BUT THIS DOES NOT ALLOW THE CHURCH TO BE EXCUSED FROM OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OFFER IT.

CHAPTER THREE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE COMPASSION OF THE CHURCH BEING OFFERED. WHAT A CONTRAST IS PRESENTED TO US. HERE AT THE TEMPLE GATE CALLED “BEAUTIFUL” IS A MAN WHO IS ANYTHING BUT BEAUTIFUL. WE ARE TOLD THAT THE MAN WAS CRIPPLED FROM BIRTH AND WAS CARRIED THERE EACH DAY TO BEG.

WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, THE BEGGAR IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE NON-CHRISTIAN IN THE WORLD TODAY. ALL TO OFTEN WE ARE CRIPPLED BY OUR FEAR AND HATRED. WITH NO SPIRITUAL LIFE TO FALL BACK ON, HE CRIES FOR THE WORLDS ANSWER TO ALL THINGS, MONEY. THE REACTION OF PETER AND PAUL TO THIS INDIVIDUAL IS A REACTION THAT WE ALL MUST HAVE.