There is a word in Matthew 9:36 and that word is “compassion.” The Greek word that is used here for compassion is transliterated as “Splagchnizomai,” and Splagchnizomai means to be so moved by the suffering of someone that it literally causes severe pain in one’s bowels, one’s gut.
The text describes Jesus observing people who are suffering and feeling so moved with compassion when He saw that the people were so harassed and helpless, and that they were like sheep without a shepherd.
The reason this biblical interpretation is important to this article is that there is a move by certain conservative so-called Christians to eliminate “empathy” from the way this nation carries out its functions concerning the people.
Recently, the Joe Rogan podcast, which caters to chaotic and obtuse mindsets, had Elon Musk, who bemoaned that there is too much empathy, on his show. Musk said, “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy…”
On the Podcast “Stronger Men Nation,” The Pastor of a so-called Christian church, Josh McPherson, said, “Empathy almost needs to be struck from the Christian vocabulary.” On this same podcast, several other pastors chimed in when McPherson further said, “empathy is dangerous. Empathy is toxic and empathy will align you with hell.”
I focused almost exclusively on Jesus of Nazareth because Jesus is supposed to be the Lord of the church. That’s what resurrection Sunday, or Easter, is all about.
That also means that what Jesus said and did is what those who say they are Christians are supposed to be emulating.
When we have so-called Christians saying that there is too much empathy when Jesus clearly demonstrated and advocated for even more than empathy, Jesus advocated for a compassion that causes one to be physically ill when observing people suffering needlessly. Especially, when we have the power to alleviate their suffering and don’t, then there is a big problem with their religion.
In fact, the word for compassion “splagchnizomai” is only used for Jesus in the New Testament and it also means that Jesus got angry that people were being allowed to be harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.
The people were harassed and helpless because of political policies that robbed people of the ability to sustain themselves and because of reckless religious rigidity that was indifferent and insensitive to the needs of those people.
The podcast pundits I mentioned are the extreme but by no means the only ones to have a lack of compassion and empathy for the most vulnerable. The history of churches in the U.S and far too many Black churches during the twentieth century operate with a lack of empathy and the compassion that Jesus demands.
There would never have been the extermination of the indigenous people of this land if so-called Christians would have had the compassion that Jesus demonstrated.
There would not have been chattel slavery if so-called Christians had any true empathy.
There would never have been the Black codes, segregation of financial resources, Jim and Jane Crow or redlining of Black neighborhoods if so-called Christians tried to emulate the compassion of Jesus.
At the end of his life, 58% of Black people did not like King, and during his life, King and SCLC could only count on fifteen hundred churches in this entire nation to support them; that does not look like the compassion of Jesus.
And we must never forget that if people who say they believe in and follow the example of Jesus of Nazareth, known as The Christ, then I believe the election of November 5th would look different today.
There is a gaping void between how Jesus showed his followers how to show fidelity to him and his movement and how his faith is actually being practiced in these “yet to be United States.”
Finally, Jesus did not just have deep pain for those suffering, but Jesus did something about it and then declared these words: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest.” We must pray for more laborers who will move from the pews to the people in need with compassion, not judgment or patronizing them.
You can’t say you follow Jesus and not try to do what Jesus did the way Jesus did it with compassion so deep that it not only meets the need but addresses why people are suffering.
Be well, Be authentic and Stay Woke. Uhuru Sassa!!!
Rev. Dr. John E. Jackson, Sr. is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ-Gary, 1276 W. 20th Ave. in Gary. “We are not just another church but we are a culturally conscious, Christ-centered church, committed to the community; we are unashamedly Black and unapologetically Christian.” Contact the church by email at [email protected] or by phone at 219-944-0500.
Rev. John E. Jackson
Rev. Dr. John E. Jackson, Sr. is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ-Gary, 1276 W. 20th Ave. in Gary. “We are not just another church but we are a culturally conscious, Christ-centered church, committed to the community; we are unashamedly Black and unapologetically Christian.”