On one level, I have no doubt that Jesus would be pleased with people rallying around compassion. Jesus’ insistence that “Love your neighbor as yourself” is the second greatest commandment makes this clear (Mark 12:31; quoting from Leviticus 19:18). But Jesus’ holistic view of love and compassion is a bit shocking–even jarring. Let’s put Jesus’ commandment in context.

Just before Mark 12:31, Jesus says the first greatest commandment is “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:29-30; quoting from Deut 6:4 -5)–really with everything. The character of the God that Jesus insists we love–the God who is one–brings me to what I think would be his second response: Do not mistake love for passivity.

A Charter for Compassion is great on one level, but it is also dangerous: It can convince us to be passive.

No doubt, Jesus passively endured the pain of the cross and did so nearly silently; even asking God to forgive those who crucified him (Luke 23:34). But he frankly had little respect for the beliefs of other people. Jesus says to a fellow group of Jews who believed differently than him, “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it” (Luke 11:43-44 ESV, italics added). (And Jesus also says plenty of harsher comments than these.)

The people listening to Jesus don’t take this lightly. A lawyer answers by saying, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also” (Luke 11:45 ESV). But this doesn’t cause Jesus to pull back his punches; instead he throws another, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers” (Luke 11:46 ESV, italics added).

Jesus knew about the pain his fellow Jews were inflecting upon both Jewish and non-Jewish people. And he also knew about the God who had instructed them time and time again, via his prophets and the law he had given them, tonot commit injustices. It made Jesus furious. He’s the guy who turns over tables, after all, and drives people out of his “Father’s house” (the Jewish temple) with a whip of cords (John 2:13-17).

But does this mean Jesus wasn’t compassionate? By no means. He healed hundreds of people he had compassion on and was moved to tears when one of his friends died (John 11:28-44). Several times the gospel writers even tell us about Jesus’ compassion on a person or a group of people (Matt 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; Mark 6:34; 8:2; 10:33; 15:20)–including a woman, who would have be
en on the underside of power in the period (Luke 7:13).

So what would Jesus do with a Compassion Charter? I don’t think he would sign it. I think he would be aware of how easily it could lead to condoning the actions of other faiths that are unjust. Jesus was not compassionate towards those who had no compassion. Instead, he was ruthless with his words of rebuke of whatever injustices they were committing. However, what Jesus was authorized to do is not a license for us to do the same. We cannot stand in the place of God. But we certainly can call out injustices of other people and faiths–with due caution, of course, and awareness of the ambiguities among different religions. We certainly don’t want to stereotype anyone or unjustly accuse them. All I am suggesting is that we be careful when talking about compassion towards all people. Because Jesus would not be compassionate on those causing other people harm–no matter what faith they professed.

Would love to hear your thoughts…