Do you feel there what they feel?
June 20th, 2011 by JimT
In being effective ministers we must be able feel peoples emotion, when working with people it is always better to meet them where they are. To meet them on their level of emotion.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.†Romans 12:15 (NASB)
I would say probably the most common example of feeling someones Emotion, is when you have a close relative or friend and they have lost a Loved One someone very close to them. Then if you were go to spent time with them right at the onset of the loss you most likely would experience their pain. In my life I have experienced this a number of time with friends and relatives. Regardless of the situation it was quite painful. I cried with the person at times, it was as if their pain was going through me. But I would regain composer and be able to minister to them. But to feel there pain actually helped me to minister because I could now empathize with their grief. It also helped to forge a bond with the other person at the moment when I was ministering and comforting them. Lets look at a record were Jesus experienced this same kind of emotional episode.
“ Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off; and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus *said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she *got up quickly and was coming to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They *said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.â€
John 11:18-35 (NASB)
Jesus Wept, WHY? Was it because he didn’t get there in time before Lazarus died? No, because in verses 4, 14 &15 of John Chapter 11 Jesus had a plan to go to Lazarus after his death, that God and the Son of God would be glorified. Was it because Lazarus had died? I don’t think so, because Jesus knew he was going to raise him from the dead.
So Why Did Jesus Weep? It was because everyone there was hurting so badly with the pain of Lazarus’s Death. He could feel their emotion and their hurt. The emotion must have been overwhelming. He Loved these people, the record stated that in verse 5. Their pain was causing great sorrow in his own heart. That is Why Jesus Wept!!! This definitely forge a deeper bond of Love between Jesus and these people he was ministering too.
Jesus was our perfect example of how to live, how to love, how to comfort, and how live compassionately towards others. Even though John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible it can teach us one of the biggest lessons. As a matter of fact this lesson is so big that it may be the very thing that turns you into being a Kingdom bond believer. To love like Christ loved and to have that kind of compassion is what gets him to say at the end. “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the worldâ€: of Matthew 25:34 (NASB)
“For I was hungry, and ye gave me food: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came to me.Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came to thee? And the King shall answer and say to them, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to Me” Matthew 25 35-40(NASB)
The only way we can perform all these acts of kindness for the less fortunate is with the same Love and Compassion that Jesus had. This can only be by the spirit he sent to us, other wise we wouldn’t be able to empathize with others emotions and feel the pain of the less fortunate. It’s only truly with the Heart of Christ that you can feel for others like he did. That is only available Via the spirit.
I remember going to the Providence Rescue Mission to serving a meal to the Homeless one Christmas . As volunteers we were handing out plates of food and we were singing to the Homeless. I remember my eyes became fixed on this one little old woman, she had on dirty worn cloths, her face looked scared from life. She just looked sad and lonely, even though she was at a table with other Homeless My heart knew she was alone. As I looked at her I could see and feel the loneliness in her, the thought that came into my mind that she could be my mother. Tears just started streaming down my face, it was the spirit of Christ inside me teaching to me have compassion for that person. It was a heart rendering experience and yet a wonderful experience all at the same time. I felt for that moment of time the kind of Love Jesus always felt for people. I’ll never forget that experience. OH, I wish the I would live that way all the time. By prayer and by grace I’m working on it!!!
Lets be filled with his spirit and let let it over flow with his Love, compassion, kindness, and goodness
this way we will feel what they feel.
Love, Jim
Wonderful,Thank you,I always cry when I pray its hard Iam a corner kid.But its OK as long as I have tissue. Love gw
In the context of the Mat 25.35-40 parable I thought “the least of these” refers to those who are most needy among Jesus’ brothers—thus, a reference to Jesus’ disciples and by extension all likeminded believers?
Xavier,
This scripture comes to mind:
Xavier, once we begin to choose who we love, we are just like those who asked Jesus “who then is my neighbor” meaning, “who is it that we should love”. He doesn’t answer that question, instead he tells us to “go and do the same” as the Samaritan did.
Jim, thanks for this article, it was a blessing to read. I am praying for my own heart to love the people I am around so that I won’t speak simply out of obligation, but out of compassion.
Sean
Perhaps the gentleman who wrote this article should have used the scripture you cited.
Victor
Just questioning the use of the Matthean parable in light of the “universalist” message of this article. Nothing more…nothing less.
Perhaps you should heed it in your own attitudes.
There is nothing “universalist” about it. He didn’t say everybody will be saved if they just play nice. He said, “In being effective ministers we must be able feel peoples emotion, when working with people it is always better to meet them where they are. To meet them on their level of emotion.”
I Cor. 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
Mark C.
What attitude is that exactly Mark?
I was using “universalist” in terms of the “do good to all men” Christian saying.
Is it just me or is everyone ganging up on me right now? :/
Xavier,
At the risk of sounding like a personal attack, I am referring to the lack of compassion you have often demonstrated here and on FaceBook.
BTW, “Universalist” does not mean doing good to all men. It is “a theological doctrine that all human beings will eventually be saved” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).
Nobody is ganging up on you, they are just pointing out the need for love and compassion, without which we are nothing. It is surprising and somewhat disheartening that you would dispute such a basic concept.
Marc C.
Wait a minute…are you the Mark Clarke I just “unfriended”? 😛
Now I get it.
Mark C.
Yep, ’tis you. :{
If asking a simple question regarding the use of a scripture in reference to this article somehow shows a lack of compassion/love on my part…well slap me silly and call me the Devil!
Yes, and as I wrote to you, it is sad that you felt it necessary to unfriend me because I called you on your lack of compassion in a couple of your comments. Why does the idea of compassion bother you so much?
Mark C.
What bothers me is people making assumptions regarding my person without even knowing me Mark.
Or worst yet, when they misread or misunderstand a simple comment and go on from there without seeking clarity on the matter.
Asking a simple question doesn’t, but many of your comments here and especially on FaceBook do.
All anyone on the internet can know of you is your words, and your words frequently demonstrate a lack of compassion.
Does saying sarcastically “heartwarming story” about an elderly gay couple looking forward to legalized gay marriage, and then pointing out Scripture about the sin of homosexuality do anything to reach a gay person’s heart?
(For those reading, my point was not to dispute whether or not homosexuality is a sin. It was about whether GOVERNMENT should say, “Your sin is worse, so you can’t have the same civil rights as other sinners.”)
Does commenting “Does this surprise anyone?” about the death of the guy from the Jackass movies demonstrate compassion? A man is dead. He has a family. How would you feel if someone made a comment like that if one of your loved ones was killed in a car crash?
And if I “misread or misunderstood” your comment, why not correct me rather than just cutting me off? But tell me, what other meaning could you have for that comment? As a representative of God’s Kingdom we are commanded to love. Do you know anyone who would find such a comment loving?
I also know from past experience here that you tend to push your point of view without listening to what the other is really saying. I’m probably wasting my time talking about this as it is, but I felt it needed to be said.
Mark C.
You are, since it has nothing to do with this thread and the comments I posted regarding it.
Regardless, it sounds like you are very hurt by my comments so I feel I must apologize.
I am sorry I have made you feel that way.
Xavier, it has EVERYTHING to do with this thread. We’re talking about compassion and reaching people’s hearts by “feeling what they feel.” It’s not that I’m hurt by your comments, it’s that they come across as the kind of smug, superior, holier-than-thou attitude that is all too prevalent among Christians, and turns so many people off to Christianity. The old saying is true, “They won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
You say it bothers you when people make assumptions about you without knowing you. But isn’t that what the above mentioned comments do? Do you know the gay couple in question? Did you know Ryan Dunn or his family?
For all I know, you may be more compassionate in real-life, one-on-one dealings with people, but the attitude you present here and on FaceBook does not communicate that. If you want to reach people’s hearts, you will really need to ask for God’s wisdom and guidance on this.
Mark C.
Thank you sir…may I have another?
Xavier,
Thank YOU for proving my point.
Mark C
Why you remove that last comment? To make your “point”?
Xavier & Mark C,
Can I please ask both of you to refrain from populating the thread with a discussion that otherwise sounds like is going to get quite personal between the both of you. I am not too sure what history you both have had over at Facebook/Kingdomready, but if there needs to be some personal conversation and/or resolution to some conflict, better do it off this thread.
For the record, can I clarify – there is nothing wrong in discussing one’s written article, as in the case of what Xavier does ad-hoc. Exploring subjects is a good thing and can promote further input/clarification and/or edification to what has already been written.
But we *should* also extend grace to the author and seek to receive his words in the *spirit* in which he wrote them and attempt to understand where they are coming from, ala Mark C.
I mean, am I right in assuming that each author who writes on Kingdomready.org seeks only to print the truth, not just some blatant tradition that he’s learned through some old, dusty denomination? Sean, can you correct and/or confirm my thinking? I mean, am I suggesting that we’re theologically mature on each given subject? Not at all. But I think we each should learn from what is written first, then seek to add/edit in our comments later – unless of course the article is blatantly wrong (not sure what policy is in place for that ~ Sean?)
This is a wonderful article that ought to stir our hearts in learning more about the *working out* of love in our own lives. Can the article be expounded? I am certain it can – cause love in the bible is a vast topic. But I think the spirit behind Jim’s article is perhaps something he would like to extend unto us for our perusal.
My apologies for this lengthy admonition – just a gentle reminder to all.
With love,
Steve.
Steve
First of all, congrats on your first moderator’s job. What are the odds that I am your first customer? 🙂
I think this is a result of a misunderstanding. I agree in principle with the article, seek to reach people’s hearts throug the preaching of the Gospel, etc.
I simply made an observation regarding the use of Mat 25 to support this point. And Sean made an excellent contribution by citing Gal 6.9-10 instead.
But I must clarify what I should have said from the beginning, the article is not only thoughtful but very heartfelt and sincere.
I love yous all!!!
The religious spirit is full of every kind of evil, self-righteousness, pride, jealousy, envy, debate, deceit, and it goes on because the one that is under it’s spell doesn’t come to the cross.
The religious spirit doesn’t have compassion. It bites others that they also may become infected with the same disease. No one is completely immune to it. It’s something all of us can sense. When we see it we should likely stay away from it, or point it out so that others might avoid it.
We should likely praise God instead, who gives us victory over every kind of evil. When something is contrary to the kingdom of heaven and feels like a pull of the flesh, we have reason to rejoice for we know that sooner or later we will have victory over whatever that is.
Though it seem to have dominion. It will not last. Because of God and his grace toward us, the ways of darkness will be exposed. Because of Christ Jesus we have access to the throne of God where no evil can hide itself. There is no darkness around his throne. God keeps his house clean. He sees everything. There is nothing under his eyes that he can not see. Everything that exists he made. It all was made for his glory and praise, to give him the fruit that is due his name. Anything less is something of evil and is contrary to the kingdom of heaven.
As we honor God, we will not have time to honor ourselves. Our focus will be on him and the things that make for peace. Therefore, let’s come out of the darkness and into the light of his glorious kingdom.
Is anybody ready?
Ray,
You said, “As we honor God, we will not have time to honor ourselves. Our focus will be on him and the things that make for peace.”
I really like that. “Peace” and “Love” do go hand in hand together. It is a fine balancing act to try to disagree with someone, and show them they are wrong, while at the same time showing respect and love…
Jim T.
Love and respect Great concept in ministering to other irrespective of race , color, background, or even religious affiliation. Jesus simply loved people. I respect poeple enough to try to meet them where they are. If I can feel their pain many times I can get to the real underlying problem and it’s usually not the first things comming out of their mouths. Most peolpes problems go way deeper than the surface. That is why you have remain peaceful to hear the spirit of Christ within you. It speaks and reveals the pain in a person so you can forge that bond of Love between you and them. Then they are open to you and they welcome your heart into theirs. Now real ministering can happen. My goal is to do the best I can to be a healer like my Master was, to heal the hurt in peoples lives
Love Jim
Jim T,
You said, “I respect people enough to try to meet them where they are.”
One of my favorite quotes is from my friends old professor (who is also a well known writer).
“You enter into the soul, the spirit of somebody else by listening to them, not by telling them something,â€
EUGENE PETERSON
JimT
Are you familiar with the story of the “rich young man”? I’m interested to get your take in regards to what Jesus said to him and the overall message concerning the cost of being a disciple of Jesus.
Do you think Jesus was “loving” in his approach to this man?
I would never question Jesus’s approach to anything if I truely believe Hebrews Chapter 4. That in all points like as we are yet without sin. No other human can touch that. That earned him the throne of Grace and authority in heaven and earth. His approach to the man was an appeal to give up the things that would hold him back from receiving his true fellowship with Jesus and ultimately with the Father.
JimT
Its not a question of whether or not Jesus sinned or erred in his “approach”. My question was to get your response to Jesus’ “tough love” attitude towards this young man.