Google definition of bedside manner: "manner or conduct of a physician in the presence of a patient."
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified."
Isaiah 61:1-3
Brokenness has many different symptoms, it may be poverty, it may be insecurity, it may be fear or past wounds that haven't healed. It may be destructive relationships, substance abuse or laziness. Since sin entered the world humanity seems to have a tendency towards brokenness even to the point where those who are whole create issues for themselves in order to fit in with everyone else! I'm not really sure at the moment whether I think "whole people" are people without issues or just people whose issues are in submission to them rather than the other way around. Maybe it's both. Either way, Isaiah shows us that the brokenness of humanity is not God's will as Jesus came to bring an end to it.
One of the main responsibilities and privileges of the Church in fulfilling the ministry of Jesus is to serve and care for those who are broken and see them made whole. Throughout Scripture the Lord pretty much says there's nothing He loves more! (Isaiah 58:6-12; Matthew 25:31-46 to name a couple) Many churches have specific ministries to specific groups of broken people and they are fantastic. We have people that venture out across the globe on missions trips to give time to serving those who are broken whether in the sex trade in Thailand or in marriage counselling in the UK. All of these are fantastic but I want to raise a question. Is (y)our heart for the broken?
As with many activities in the Church that we're afraid to engage with, it's really easy to stand back and applaud those who selflessly give of themselves to see the broken made whole. We can agree theologically with what they're doing and think "Yeah it's great that someone is doing that" and have absolutely no change happen in our hearts and therefore our lives. Or worse we can restrict our time for serving the poor to our missions trips or ministry nights. The issue comes when we minister to the broken while our heart is not in it. Think back to when you were a kid and you hurt yourself. You're crying and the world is pretty much ending. You run to the nearest trusted adult for help in all your vulnerability. If all you get is a plaster (or worse maybe even a "stop being such a baby"), you're going to be miserable for a long time afterwards! What we need in that moment is authentic sympathy mixed with affirmation ("You're such a brave boy!") combined with the mystical power of the "kiss-it-better" finished off with the embrace that doesn't end until the pain has gone! Then you run off, ready to take on the world!
Broken people can tell when someone is attending to them out of obligation and guess what? It sucks! It makes you feel horrible, like a faceless name on a long list of arduous chores! People actually often get more injured through that sort of ministry, thinking "Not even the people who're supposed to care care about me!" Jesus didn't treat people like this. We find Him giving His full attention to the people who came to Him and engaging them, meeting them where they're at. Jesus touched the leper who hadn't been touched for years and healed him when He could have just spoken a word. Jesus allowed the children to come to Him so that He could bless every single one! And although it seems gross, Jesus put his own spit in the eyes of a blind him to restore his sight! He gave something of Himself for the restoration of another. Broken people need to be accepted in their brokenness in order to be led into wholeness.
Thanks for reading. Please read Part 2!
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified."
Isaiah 61:1-3
Brokenness has many different symptoms, it may be poverty, it may be insecurity, it may be fear or past wounds that haven't healed. It may be destructive relationships, substance abuse or laziness. Since sin entered the world humanity seems to have a tendency towards brokenness even to the point where those who are whole create issues for themselves in order to fit in with everyone else! I'm not really sure at the moment whether I think "whole people" are people without issues or just people whose issues are in submission to them rather than the other way around. Maybe it's both. Either way, Isaiah shows us that the brokenness of humanity is not God's will as Jesus came to bring an end to it.
One of the main responsibilities and privileges of the Church in fulfilling the ministry of Jesus is to serve and care for those who are broken and see them made whole. Throughout Scripture the Lord pretty much says there's nothing He loves more! (Isaiah 58:6-12; Matthew 25:31-46 to name a couple) Many churches have specific ministries to specific groups of broken people and they are fantastic. We have people that venture out across the globe on missions trips to give time to serving those who are broken whether in the sex trade in Thailand or in marriage counselling in the UK. All of these are fantastic but I want to raise a question. Is (y)our heart for the broken?
As with many activities in the Church that we're afraid to engage with, it's really easy to stand back and applaud those who selflessly give of themselves to see the broken made whole. We can agree theologically with what they're doing and think "Yeah it's great that someone is doing that" and have absolutely no change happen in our hearts and therefore our lives. Or worse we can restrict our time for serving the poor to our missions trips or ministry nights. The issue comes when we minister to the broken while our heart is not in it. Think back to when you were a kid and you hurt yourself. You're crying and the world is pretty much ending. You run to the nearest trusted adult for help in all your vulnerability. If all you get is a plaster (or worse maybe even a "stop being such a baby"), you're going to be miserable for a long time afterwards! What we need in that moment is authentic sympathy mixed with affirmation ("You're such a brave boy!") combined with the mystical power of the "kiss-it-better" finished off with the embrace that doesn't end until the pain has gone! Then you run off, ready to take on the world!
Broken people can tell when someone is attending to them out of obligation and guess what? It sucks! It makes you feel horrible, like a faceless name on a long list of arduous chores! People actually often get more injured through that sort of ministry, thinking "Not even the people who're supposed to care care about me!" Jesus didn't treat people like this. We find Him giving His full attention to the people who came to Him and engaging them, meeting them where they're at. Jesus touched the leper who hadn't been touched for years and healed him when He could have just spoken a word. Jesus allowed the children to come to Him so that He could bless every single one! And although it seems gross, Jesus put his own spit in the eyes of a blind him to restore his sight! He gave something of Himself for the restoration of another. Broken people need to be accepted in their brokenness in order to be led into wholeness.
Thanks for reading. Please read Part 2!
This follows on from what I read yesterday on Christine Caine's blog, the leader of A21- a body whose mission is "Abolishing Human Trafficking in the 21st century". Well, yesterday was Human Trafficking Awareness day and since the day I watched the Human Trafficking movie, I have made it an obligation to do what I can to spread awareness about this cause. But this only when I feel like and it's convenient, sadly. Like you mentioned, it gradually became a chore and what started as fiery compassion has dwindled into a mere tick off my-good-things-to-do list.
ReplyDeleteIn the blog, she talks about our inner core. What we ACTUALLY ARE. Not what comes out of but the source. Possibly the spiritual nucleus.
Like Jesus, it should be made with compassion- the basis of all the miracles our Savour performed. I pray that God will remould my heart each day, that my core is sculpted off compassion, chiseling out any extra reasons for carrying out God's assignment that isn't primarily based in love.
Whew, essay writing sure doesn't end with uni stuff, lol!
Yeah I think our inner core is often blocked up with other things and we have to partner with the Holy Spirit to get them out so He can flow freely.
ReplyDelete