Christ and Empathy
By: Rev. Chad Wright, Associate Pastor of Christian Care and Counseling
Fellow Believers in Christ,
I am frequently saddened by the dialogue I have seen on television and on social media. Apart from the lack of decency toward a fellow human being, the cruel ad hominem attacks, and the all-too-common lack of credible defenses, the one thing that sticks out in most of the dialogue is the lack of empathy towards others. In fact, God condemns it. The Apostle Paul put a big spotlight on it and told us what the ultimate outcome will be: “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19–21, NIV)
Empathy, however, flows from love. It permeates the fabric of Scripture. Virtually every instruction God offers regarding the way we’re to treat others begins with empathy: trying to see things from the other person’s perspective. If we seek to follow and reflect Christ, it is crucial that we continue to read the Bible for the source of empathy. As you listen to God’s Word, notice the frequent exhortation from God to be like Him and show empathy. Think about the following:
“All of you be of one mind” (1 Peter 3:8).
The “one mind” that the apostle Peter refers to in this passage is the mind of Christ, which is what all Christians aspire to have. Think like Christ. Love everyone like He does. Peter’s call for unity among believers cannot be answered without empathy and understanding. In order to be one with other people, we must develop a deep understanding of who they are, how they became that person, what they know, how they learned it, what they value and why, how they feel and why they feel that way. In order to learn all that, we must be willing to listen and learn. According to the Apostle Peter, oneness is created by treating one another with compassion, love, tenderness and courtesy—four qualities that lie at the heart of empathy.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).
Those who rejoice usually do so because good things are happening in their lives. If we’re not careful, other people’s rejoicing can trigger feelings of competition or jealousy. The urge to “top” others with stories of our own successes—or to wallow in envy because we don’t have as much to rejoice over—can be hard to resist. Likewise, those who weep usually do so because they’ve suffered a devastating loss or misfortune. That can mean they have trauma. If we come with judgment and prejudices, we can cause more pain in the lives of hurting people. The urge to stay out of the mess—to send our thoughts and prayers from a safe distance—can be hard to resist. The Apostle Paul encourages us to set aside our experiences at least long enough to understand someone else’s. That gives us the best opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus and do some good.
“Jesus wept” (John 11:35).
Jesus knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead; He had told His disciples before returning to Bethany. So, He knew there would be an ending to the mourning of Lazarus’ loved ones. He knew that in a matter of minutes, their tears would turn to joy. So, Jesus would have been excused for rolling His eyes and shaking His head over the people’s reaction to something so temporary. But, He didn’t. Nor did He try to talk them out of their grief. He didn’t chide them for their lack of faith. Jesus saw people who were hurting and it made Him hurt too. He empathized so strongly with those who were mourning that He wept. (Sidenote: this is a reason Trinity has the Grief Share program and have me here as a counseling pastor.)
If empathy sounds like a new concept to you, consider it in is simplest form: Love your neighbor as yourself. This is what I struggle with each day. I imagine you do too. Thankfully, we have Jesus’ sympathy. He was tempted in every way we are, but never sinned. He knows and gives us the love and strength to overcome our sinful nature. Less of me, more of Jesus. So, the daily challenge is looking at our neighbor the way Jesus does. What are some ways you can show biblical empathy to your community?
See you next week right here at the intersection of faith and mental health.