Early Christian Compassion

Christianity often gets a bad name for the atrocities that have seemingly been sanctioned by Christians (Crusades, holocaust, etc.). Not wishing to minimize the damage done by people who wrongly use Christ for their own power-plays, I do think it is equally important to point out that Christians have demonstrated amazing compassion over the course of history. Below I have provided to examples where Christians have provided relief, at great cost, to people who were suffering. The first quote explains how Christians responded to a plague that was ravaging a city (around 250 AD). It should be pointed out that there was no health care system available for people when they got sick!

[The plague] did not keep away even from us, but it came out against the heathen in force…[Christians are] fearlessly visiting the sick and continually ministering to them, serving them in Christ, most cheerfully departed this life with them, becoming infected with the affliction of others, and drawing the sickness from their neighbors upon themselves, and willingly taking over their pains. And many, after they had cared for the sickness of others and restored the to health, themselves died, transferring their to death to themselves…the best of the brethren among us departed form life in this manner, some presbyters and deacons and some of the laity…this form of death, which had its origin in much piety and strong faith, seemed to be a little short of martyrdom. (Dionysus of Alexandria, cited in Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 7.22)

This second quote comes from Gregory of Nazianzus, who was explaining the basis for the actions of Basil of Cappodocia during a prolonged famine in the region in the late 360s. His quote is quite apropos given that it is Maundy Thursday (often celebrated with the washing of feet)!

For by his word and advice he opened the stores of those who possessed them, and, so, according to the Scripture dealt food to the hungry, and satisfied the poor with bread, and fed them in the time of dearth, and filled the hungry souls with good things. And in what way? For this is no slight addition to his praise. He gathered together the victims of the famine with some who were but slightly recovering from it, men and women, infants, old men, every age which was in distress, and obtaining contributions of all sorts of food which can relieve famine, set before them basins of soup and such meat as was preserved among us, on which the poor live. Then, imitating the ministry of Christ, Who, girded with a towel, did not disdain to wash the disciples’ feet, using for this purpose the aid of his own servants [deacons], he attended to the bodies and souls of those who needed it, combining personal respect with the supply of their necessity, and so giving them a double relief. (Or. 43.35, in NPNF 7.406)