Artistic Compassion

Jude 1:22, “And of some have compassion, making a difference:”-KJV

If you have been on this journey for the past 2 months than you know the Lord has had us in a series dealing with the relationship between evangelism and the arts.  We closed January looking at our “Artistic Power” and confirmed that the Holy Spirit was poured out in Acts 1:8 for the purpose of giving us the ability to be used of God to win souls.  In February we looked at the “Artistic Charge” rendered in Mark 16:15 to leave the “Come Ye Ministry” for the “Go Ye Ministry”.  Neither of these passages was written specifically to artists but to Christendom in general.  However, if we are artists who claim to be in relationship with Christ, than we know the passage applies to us as well.  If we are honest I believe this series has been convicting but I also believe it has been encouraging.  The church “at large” has been very pre-occupied with what is going on in the four walls (whether those four walls are where we worship weekly or if the “walls” are the conferences and programs directed at the saints) and I believe the challenge has been set before us to first care about the lost and then utilize our anointed, artistic, charisma with the intentional purpose to reach the them.  Well I do sense God giving me permission to move on so that I don’t become a “serial killer” but there is a final entry in the form of a testimony.

Earlier in March I was asked to minister at an assisted living facility.  For those who don’t know, this is not quite a “senior center”.  This is a place where people go after they had a medical trial by which now they need assistance with everyday living.  Prior to the medical trauma one could dress themselves, take their medication, basically handling their daily routine but right now they are having trouble with these thing and need help.  It is possible that people come through assisted living and return to normal life functions but it is also possible that people come through assisted living and go to a more permanent care situation like a senior center.  It just depends on what the person is dealing with.

Originally when I was asked to come, I thought I was coming to be a part of an already existing service and to do a mime presentation but I was asked to handle the service (including delivering a message) which put me in a catch 22.  I couldn’t go in with mime make up and start preaching, well I could but everyone would not be ready to see that oneJ.  So I sought the Lord and decided to take the children’s mime team with me and prepared an abbreviated message.  I’ve visited these facilities before many times and was aware of people coming in to do services but I had never actually been to a service in a center so I had no idea what to expect.

I had 12 children with me and their parents and we walked into a room with eight people.  One was visiting a resident; six were in wheel chairs and one was immobilized on a bed.  I may be exaggerating when I say the room was the size of maybe 2 hospital rooms adjoined but it was far from “sound stage spacing”.  The children presented a mime to Kirk Franklin’s Brokenhearted (Hero CD) and I shared a brief message from Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”-NKJV   Because of the spacing in the room, we had to leave the doors open while the children ministered and the entire nursing station stopped to watch.  One nurse stayed in the room until they got done.  When the children finished, they went downstairs to take their make-up off while I shared the message and prayed for the residents.  Fortunately God brought the lady who asked me to come so she guided me through what to do next.  One thing we did was went around the room and simply hugged each person.  Then the thought hit me to run back down and get the children.  They came up and went through the room as well just hugging and shaking hands.  Prior to the children returning to the room the residents who could speak, thanked me and told me they appreciated the message and the children, etc., but when the children returned to the room and hugged them, something broke in the room.  One lady cried out, “Hallelujah!”  It was very clear to me that of all the ministry that took place that day, the one with the most impact was the ministry of compassion.

Overall the book of Jude gives out warnings to guard against false teaching premise that grace is a license to sin.  However, this one chapter book ends with a focus on going after lost souls with a call to compassion.  (Please note: The goal with this journal entry is not so much an exegesis but more of a topical focus.)  Jesus’ ministry was one of compassion.  If you look through the gospels you will find the miracles of Christ combined with the compassion He had for the people.  Jesus made sure folks who came to hear him were fed because he had compassion. (Mat. 15:32) He healed the sick because of compassion. (Mat. 14:14).  What is interesting to note is the fact that every time Jesus exuded compassion and manifested a miracle, the response of the people was to follow Him. (Mat. 20:34)  Don’t miss this. 

Those who go into the prisons and the homeless shelters, those who arrange programs for battered women, those who serve at the soup kitchens, those who set up services at the Salvation Army and the YMCA not just because you don’t have a building yet but because you desire to be in the community where people need to hear The Word, I just want to commend you for your efforts.  Your labor in not in vain.  Yes some of the people you serve already have a relationship with Christ but I guarantee many who are watching do not.  By “going”, you are actually following the footsteps of Christ and at the end of the day; you will probably have more “kingdom impact” than the mega church movement.  I’m not knocking the large churches but I am knocking the thought process that is excited about attending a large church where “someone” is ministering to the community but everyone else is bragging but not involved.  I’m knocking the thought process that says, “If I tell you to come to my church and hear/ see me (sing, dance, play, etc.) than I’ve done my evangelistic bidding for the year.”

If we claim to be called by God to do what we do than we must recognize there is a yoke breaking anointing on our lives.  Yes the people of God need the edification that comes from our ministries but the call of the church is to be a witness to the world.  We would be really upset if the firemen stayed in the fire station all the time and never went out to deal with fires.  Well this is what it’s like when we spend our ministry planning only focussing on the four walls.  I know that there are hatred groups running around burning down churches but sometimes I wonder…does it take a literal fire at the church to get us out into the community?

Jude makes a very simple plea, “And of some have compassion, making a difference”.  Compassion is not just crying because you see someone in need but it’s caring enough to be willing inconvenience yourself to help.  Ministering outside the walls is not convenient…many times they won’t have a green room or an offering.  Many times they won’t have a Bose sound system, or even idea space for changing or the actual execution of the ministry itself.  Many times all they will have is an opportunity for us to be used of God to make a difference.  We close this entry with a reverse altar call…Whosoever will, let him/her go…Won’t you “go”?