By REV. DR. JOHN HATCHER
Religion Columnist

If you can put your hands on a video tape named “Transformation,” do it. The video reports of what God is doing around the world, especially in Columbia, Kenya, Guatemala, and the United States (Hemut, California). Our church has just finished watching the video over four Sundays.

These four communities were as common as they are diverse. They evidenced the same sort of problems: drugs, alcohol, family abuse, gang activity, and the occult's destructive influence. Because of the predominance of their problems, these four communities were depressed spiritually, economically, and socially.

Then! Then a small remnant of the people of God began to resonate with the heart of Jesus Christ. The New Testament frequently focuses on the heart of Jesus. For his heart beat with compassion for all people. One example: while en route to Jerusalem and facing capital punishment, two blind men hailed Jesus to their side and begged him to give them sight. He did and they saw (Matthew 20: 32-34).

What is the big deal, you ask? Jesus was on his way to take care of some big business. Bigger than a nuclear arms reduction treaty. Bigger than a cease fire accord. Bigger than planning to blow a meteor off an impact on earth. Jesus was on his way to start a new life for humankind. That despite treaties, meteors, or wars, humankind's future is secure.

With that kind of big business in Jerusalem, two nobodies got his attention. He stopped in his tracks and took time for two blind nobodies. Why? Because he had a heart of compassion. The means to his end were also important.

That is the first secret the church must imitate from our Lord: compassion. Compassion, Webster says, is the feeling of sorrow for the suffering or needs of another with an urge to help. Most of us play compassion beautifully toward ourselves as we are needy or even family members. But how about the man or woman behind the counter at the gas station? How about check out person at the grocery store? How about the man who picks up our garbage? How about the poor man or woman who calls our homes during supper hour to sell us new vinyl siding (remember, he's trying to make a buck just like us)?

How about the prostitute? Do you hold up your two holes holy nose or do you see them like Jesus with compassion? How about gang members? Do we have compassion on them?

But here is a big one for Republican Fayette County: do we Christians have compassion on William Jefferson Clinton or do we view him only through political eyes? Rest assured, Jesus sees him and every other government worker from a postal carrier to the former Mr. Speaker with compassion.

Let the people of God have compassion for all people and begin the process of transformation of our community!

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in Fayetteville.

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