Caring for the Hurting with Gospel Truth and Compassion
Caring for the Hurting with Gospel Truth and Compassion
Caring for those who suffer is a fundamental aspect of Christian compassion, rooted in biblical teachings and exemplified in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The Bible emphasizes God's concern for the afflicted and commands believers to follow His example. Psalms 10:14 highlights God's care for the victim and the fatherless, demonstrating His willingness to take their troubles into His hands [1].
The Christian response to suffering involves both comforting the afflicted and sharing the gospel truth with them. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, God comforts the afflicted and is a refuge and strength to them, as seen in various biblical passages such as Psalms 27:5-6 and Isaiah 25:4 [2]. The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:6 that the comfort and salvation believers receive through their afflictions are meant to be shared with others who suffer similarly [5].
The gospel is described as "the power of God to salvation" (Romans 1:16), and its message is one of great joy for all people, as it brings life and immortality to light through Jesus Christ [6]. In caring for the hurting, believers are called to share this gospel truth while also demonstrating compassion and sympathy. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists various ways to care for the afflicted, including praying for them, sympathizing with them, comforting them, and relieving their needs [4].
Different Christian traditions emphasize the importance of caring for the hurting in their own ways. For instance, John Chrysostom, an Eastern Orthodox father, highlights the importance of sympathizing with others, noting that those who do not turn aside from the calamities of others will not suffer as much in their own misfortunes [9]. Similarly, John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed theologian, interprets Psalms 147:3 as indicating that Christ heals the broken-hearted by applying pardoning grace and mercy to them [8].
The practice of caring for the hurting is not limited to individual actions but is also reflected in the communal life of the church. Believers are encouraged to share with the saints in need and to practice hospitality, as seen in Romans 12:13 [3]. By doing so, they glorify God and demonstrate their subjection to the gospel of Christ, as noted by John Gill in his commentary on 2 Corinthians 9:13 [7].
Sources
- Psalms “But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless. -- Psalms 10:14”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
- Romans “Romans 12:13 (BSB) — Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted, Duty Toward The — To pray for them -- Ac 12:5; Php 1:16,19; Jas 5:14-16. To sympathise with them -- Ro 12:15; Ga 6:2. To pity them -- Job 6:14. To bear them in mind -- Heb 13:3. To visit them -- Jas 1:27. To comfort them -- Job 16:5; 29:25; 2Co 1:4; 1Th 4:18. To relieve them -- Job 31:19,20; Isa 58:10; Php 4:14; 1Ti 5:10. To protect them -- Ps 82:3; Pr 22:22; 31:5.”
- 2 Corinthians “But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. -- 2 Corinthians 1:6”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 147:3: He healeth the broken in heart,.... Christ is a physician; many are the diseases of his people; he heals them all by his blood, stripes, wounds; and among the rest their broken hearts, which none can cure but himself; hearts broken by the word, as a hammer, accompanied with a divine power; which have a true sense of sin, and godly sorrow for it; are truly contrite, such as the Lord has a respect unto, dwells with, and accepts of; and these he heals, and only he, by pouring in oil and wine, as the good Samaritan; or by applying pardoning grace and mercy to them, strea”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: an hedge about him and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?” ( Job i. 10 .) Wherefore? Hear Job himself saying, “I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the orphans.” ( Job xxix. 15 .) As he who does not turn aside from the calamities of others, will not suffer even in his own misfortunes, because he has learnt to sympathize; so he who will not bear the griefs of sympathy, will learn all sorrow in his own person. 1407 1407 “The tender for another’s pain, Th’ unfeeling for his o”