Becoming God's Visible Compassion

Those of us who call ourselves followers of Christ seem to be all over the place when it comes to an understanding of what it really means to be a Christian.  This difference of opinion often makes us seem like a strange bunch, and for good reason. 

If you were to gather a group of us together and ask us, "What does it mean to be a Christian?" or "What is the purpose of being a Christian?" You'll most likely get the expected stuff about being a "good person," loving others, and perhaps a smattering of "doing your best to lead a moral life."  

To be fair, even those answers will be nuanced, as Christians often hold wildly differing views on what they mean beneath the platitudes.  

But what you might discover is that there will be roughly half of the group with a sense that the most important reason to be a Christian is to "go to heaven when you die."  

I remember when I was six years old, I made a profession of faith, and "asked Jesus to come into my heart to save me," because I didn't want to spend all of eternity burning in hell.  As a kid with a vivid imagination, I found the thought of such a fate haunting and was spurred to take action to prevent it.  

Interestingly, despite the fact that most Christians believe going to heaven when they die is at the heart of their faith and beliefs, Jesus never really talked about it that much at all.  In fact, his stated mission wasn't at all heavenly-minded; it was decidedly focused on bringing heaven to earth.

It's almost as if he taught (because he did) that if you focused on doing God's will and fulfilling God's purposes on earth, you needn't worry about what comes after you have"shuffled off this mortal coil."  

Jesus' final words to his followers weren't: 

"So, all of this resurrection business means that you lot are assured a place in heaven when you finally kick the bucket. That's right, you heard me. No doing laps in the Lake of Fire for the rest of eternity for you.  That fate is reserved for all of the saps who don't believe what you tell them about me.  Now go out and be so heavenly-minded that you aren't any earthly good."

Jesus teachings to his followers were the exact opposite.  He taught his followers to love one another, to be generous with all they had, to put others first, to bring healing, end suffering, practice non-violence, act as peacemakers, light-bringers, bearers of the good news that God so loved the world, God became one of us to rescue all of us.  

Richard Rohr spoke to this very notion in his incredible book The Universal Christ:  

“Christians are meant to be the visible compassion of God on earth more than “those who are going to heaven.”

During this Easter season, we have the opportunity to shift our focus to the world around us, and to truly become the "visible compassion" of God, not only to the people we encounter, but also to Creation itself. 

How we live and move in the world can serve as a sign that, like God, we haven't given up on it.  

We aren't "just passin' through" this life to get to the next, as the old hymn might suggest.  This world is our home, and we are not called to sit on our hands waiting for some life "way beyond the blue."  We are meant to do more and be more, right here and now.  

May you find ways to be God's visible compassion to the world around you.  May you discover what it means to embody that God so loved the world.  May you learn what it means to bring heavenly-mindedness to all your earthly tasks.  

And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, now and forever.  Amen.  

Prayer: 

Loving God,

You have called us not only to believe, but to embody your love in the world. Open our eyes to the places where your compassion is needed, and soften our hearts to respond with courage and grace. Help us to move beyond fear and into faithful action, becoming instruments of your peace, healing, and hope. Teach us to live as people of resurrection—bringing light where there is darkness, and love where there is need. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. In what ways have I understood my faith more as a future promise than a present calling—and how might that shift?

2. Where is God inviting me to be “visible compassion” in my daily life right now?

3. What is one concrete way I can bring a glimpse of heaven to earth this week?