Radicalis 2010, Part 5

Don't forget, next week I will be beginning a study on Colossians. Today, I will continue my words using Rick Warren's outline from Radicalis - and yes some of these are actually my words and how I am processing this conference.

Radical Compassion

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:18-21 (NIV)

This is Jesus quoting Isaiah 61:1,2 which also speaks of healing the brokenhearted (which the KJV and NKJV add). I love these verses, because so many people say they don't know what to do with their lives. Here's the answer - do as Jesus did!

Jesus came to help not hinder. He came to minister not preach at. He came to correct the false compassion being shown by the religious order - that is RADICAL! He taught Scripture with words and followed up with actions. Let's look at this list He gives:

"The Poor" are the have-nots. These are those who live in some form of poverty. America's poorest people are still richer than most people throughout the world - try working for .27 a day. In our world there is material poverty whether lack of food or money or goods. There is moral poverty which plagues many "Christian" nations (the United States is not any different). There is also spiritual poverty among those who do not have a god or those who are worshiping false gods.

"The Brokenhearted" are the let down. These are those who suffer due to disappointment, rejection, and resentment. Class warfare, broken homes, bullying are part of the problem that creates brokenness.

I'm broken by their taunts,Flat on my face, reduced to a nothing. I looked in vain for one friendly face. Not one. I couldn't find one shoulder to cry on. Psalms 69:20 (MSG)

"The Imprisoned" are the locked up. There are several types of personal prisons: addictions and compulsions; secrets; lack of education (ignorance); and fears. Prisons keep people from participating fully in life.

"The Blind" are the shut out. There are several variations of physical blindness (totally without sight to night blindness). There is also relational and spiritual blindness. Relational blindness leads to people walking over or using others for their own benefit. Spiritual blindness comes from immaturity in faith (and a lot of long-time, church goers are immature in their faith).

"The Oppressed" are the kicked around. Oppression comes in several forms: political oppression (communist and Islamic oppression of Christianity as an example); cultural oppression (treating women as second class citizens); and spiritual oppression (depression, stress, and worry).

Jesus came to declare the Year of Jubilee - the year of the Lord's favor. Ministry is about those who are hurting. Preachers should preach to the needs and the hurts of people.

Jesus came to:

• Preach the Good News
• Heal the brokenhearted - hurt people hurt people; they need healing!
  
• Proclaim freedom - confession reveals feelings and helps set us free
• Provide recovery of sight by offering spiritual insight
• Release the oppressed - you want to overcome fear, then practice the presence of Christ

Jesus Strategy is the PEACE plan (a peace He left that surpasses all understanding):

• P - plant churches and promote reconciliation
• E - equip servant leaders
• A - assist the poor
• C - care for the sick
• E - educate the next generation

Listen to the words of Paul:

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it! 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (MSG)

Paul became a servant to all while trying to find common ground with them as a means of sharing the gospel of Jesus.

How can we have the same heart as Jesus?

1. We must care about what Jesus cares about - people! We must have a heart for the condition of the world and we must love His church for which He died.
2. We must be indifferent to what Jesus is indifferent to: He is indifferent to impressing others (John 5:41), and He is indifferent to getting rich (Luke 12:15). A man ask Jesus to let him follow but only after he buried his family (they hadn't died yet). The man confounded the words of Jesus. He wanted to put himself before the Lord - we are supposed to put Jesus first in all things.
3. We must get angry at what Jesus is angry about. Yes, we can be angry without sinning. Jesus was angered when the needs of children go unmet (Mark 10:13-14). He also is angered when the suffering of others is ignored (Luke 11:46).
4. We must sacrifice for what Jesus sacrificed. When we tell people the Good News about Jesus, we should learn to tell them about freedom from sin. Many Christians and preachers spend too much time dangling people over hell until they are afraid enough to look to Jesus. People need to know that they can be free from sin, as well as free from hell. Be compassionate about their needs and they are more willing to look to the compassionate Lord within you!
   

Where are you making your mark today? Are you ready fro radical compassion?