Thoughts on Transgenderism, Part 4

I would like to revisit the thought of compassion that I mentioned in Part 3. In Part 3, I said that compassion should be shown on the back end of repentance and not on the front end so as not to allow one's emotions to become a snare and embrace a lifestyle that God directly opposes in His Word. But I need to explain this in a little more detail so as not to give the wrong idea behind the need to show compassion.

Showing compassion can and should be given on the front side of repentance. For example, if you were to see a homeless man, woman, or family in the park, you wouldn't tell yourself, "I am not going to show compassion unless I see evidence of repentance." No, that would cruel.

Homelessness is not a sin or crime. Transgenderism, though not a crime, is a sin. Therefore, regarding sinful behaviors and choices, it is often best to show compassion on the back end of repentance. With regards to social and personal conditions, it is often better to show compassion on the front end of repentance -- i.e. giving a cup of cold water (food, clothing, etc) in the name of Jesus.  Some needy people need such things now not later.

But here is the one thing about compassion that makes it really stand out:

Our compassion will develop in direct proportion to our involvement in seeing and meeting the needs of others.

When the disciples saw the hungry multitude, they did not want to become involved, so they urged Jesus to send the people away. However, when Jesus saw the needs of the multitude, He "was moved with compassion toward them" and got involved. This compassion compelled Him to meet their needs. (See Matthew 14:14-21, 15:32-38.)  Jesus saw their needs and was moved with compassion and got involved. Again, this was done by Jesus on the front end of repentance because being hungry is not a sin.

When a priest saw a half-dead victim of a robbery, "he passed by on the other side." When a Levite saw the wounded man, he "looked on him, and passed by on the other side." But when the Samaritan saw him, "he had compassion on him" and invested his time and resources to meet the wounded man's needs. (See Luke 10:30-37.)

A willingness to invest ourselves in meeting the needs of others is preliminary to fulfilling Matthew 9:37-38. Jesus gave this command after He “... went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:35-36).

God will do great things through a person whose heart is willing to see needs and show compassion to others.

This explains why the Levite "saw" the same man on the side of the road and decided to walk pass him. His heart was not willing, even though his eyes had witness a great need.

The three necessary ingredients for compassion are:

1. (Mind) Witness a need either through sight or hearing. "Seeing" or "hearing" of a need engages us in the experience and we are more likely to respond.

2.  (Heart) Have a willing heart to help and do what you are able.

3.  (Will) Get involve.

Most of us desire to do something great with our lives, yet many people do not realize that God's perspective on greatness is different from the world's perspective. Jesus tells us, “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).

As further motivation to show compassion by serving others, we should remember that Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). We will never achieve true greatness in serving Jesus without compassion.

True heart rendering compassion ought to be prevalent among people who hold on to the name of Jesus. There are plenty of ways for us to show compassion on the front end of repentance.  Even with someone who is in sin, we can show compassion on the front end of repentance if their immediate need is neutral (non-moral).  If someone makes a bad choice and does so with conviction -- i.e. they chose to and not simply fell into it, if that person expects compassion in the form of acceptance of their wrong moral choice, that should not be given without severe compromise to follow.  When we compromise, instead of one person needing help, now there's two -- you and the person you compromised with.

End of Part 4