Is Empathy a Sin? Are Empathy and Compassion different?

 “So what is the problem with empathy today?” he asks. “We are, in fact, told to weep with those who weep, but that assumes those who weep have a reason for weeping that is in line with God’s revelation.” James White. Conservative US Pastor.

So are Christians only allowed to feel empathy for innocent victims of sin or sickness but not for people who are suffering because of their own sin? This sounds like phariseeism to me.
Jesus showed empathy for sinners.

Jesus showed mercy to the woman caught in the act of adultery in John Chapter 8. Was this merely a cold judicial decision? Hardly. Jesus was accused of being a friend of sinners. He did not embrace their sin but neither did he lack feelings of compassion.

John Piper is an enormously influential conservative US pastor. He and his followers go so far as to talk about the “sin of empathy” … So if a promiscuous homosexual or prostitute is dying of aids, should we judge or love? Jesus did not condone sin but he always demonstrated heartfelt empathy with suffering people.

Hard line conservative preachers play clever games with words by trying to distinguish between compassion and empathy.

They play similar word games by saying a man must love his wife but she must respect her husband. As if love respect were quite distinct things. If you love your wife and you do not respect her, your love is not real.

Many Christians latch on to the statement that empathy is a sin, and the theological word games get forgotten. They become coldly judgemental and compassion fades away.

The horrific results are plain to see in culture and politics. Aggressive bible believers enthusiastically support government policies that deny affordable essential health care to poor people in a very rich and powerful country.

An American pastor preached on the Sermon on the Mount.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mt 5:3 NIV

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Mt 5:7 NIV

The conservative culture warriors in the congregation were not impressed, but the pastor reminded them that these were the words of Jesus.

The reply was shocking. “But this doesn't work any more.”

American conservative fundamentalism has become so corrupted by self righteous culture warfare that it is sometimes hard to tell if it is any better than extreme post Christian liberalism.

What did Jesus say?

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Mt 5:13 NIV

Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. Mt 24:10–12 NRSV

Lawlessness certainly undermines natural as well as Christian love, but harsh self righeous legalism is no less destructive. We can see this illustrated in the way Jesus denounced the pharisees.

If you teach that empathy is a sin, you are teaching doctrines of demons. You are in danger of being condemned as a false prophet.

No one Loves like Jesus

 In the Bible we see how some very strictly religious Jews were anxious to obey all of God's commandments.

It is curious that Jesus was cruelly persecuted and his most fierce opponents were strictly religious Jews.

Jesus agreed in some ways with these religious men that we must all obey God's commandments.

But Jesus had a very different view of God's commandments. For the strictly religious people, sin could be avoided altogether by always following a list of rules.

Jesus taught that you could by no means be sinless with this view.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. Mt 23:25–26 NRSV

Jesus taught that the root of sin is not in external actions, but in our soul or heart.

But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.

For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.” Mt 15:18–20 NIV

If you not only always speak only the truth and never lie, if you always proclaim God's truth and always do so with wisdom, love and compassion, then you are righteous.

But if you boast about your own virtue and criticise other Christians critically and without compassion, then you expose yourself as a self-righteous sinner.

Only Jesus was without sin and no one else. He is our role model.

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Mt 14:14 NIV

How should we understand Jesus' deep compassion? In the original Greek text, the word is ``splagchnisthḗsomai‘’.

What does that mean?

The suffering of the sick aroused such compassion in Jesus that it turned his stomach.

If we want to understand what God's justice means, we should recognise that God's love must determine and shape our character.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 Jn 4:8 NIV

If you think you have no sin, you must ask yourself if you love like Jesus.

“...‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
…. ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mk 12:29–31 NIV

No one loves like Jesus. That is why we all need God's grace and forgiveness every day.

Praying for Unbelievers

 Richard Wurmbrand was a preacher in Romania. He was persecuted under the Nazi occupation, but then things got even worse under the communists.

When the Russian army arrived, it was not really a liberation for the Christians, but Richard Wurmbrand evangelised fearlessly. He even tried to win the Russian officers for Jesus.
 
One Russian officer denied that he believed in God, but with God's wisdom Richard Wurmbrand was able to see through this atheism.

‘But you still pray in an emergency, don't you?’
The communist was caught out and embarrassed.
‘When we were besieged and surrounded in Stalingrad, we all prayed.’

When my mother was 70 years old and still healthy, she didn't want to take my prayers seriously, but at 76 she was close to death. Then she was very grateful for my prayers and she died in peace with God.

Between 1982 and 2000, Argentina experienced a powerful revival. One of the prominent preachers in this revival was Ed Silvoso.

Ed Silvoso explained that many Christians want to pray for unbelievers, but without speaking openly to the unbelievers. They are afraid that God might not answer these prayers and then their faith would appear weak and useless.

Ed Silvoso began his missionary work at the age of 16.

After many years, he has learnt that many non-Christians appreciate our help through prayer, even if they do not expect results and may not even have a clear idea of God Himself.

When we ask our colleagues or neighbours if we should pray for them, they are often grateful for our charity. When they experience that God hears them, his intervention can awaken their faith.

I once spoke to a witch. I tried to win her over to Jesus, but the conversation was very difficult. She had a cunning answer for everything.

Finally, I realised that I should stop striving. I asked God for wisdom on how to end the conversation, and God gave me the right words.

I told her, ‘I will pray that Jesus will visit you in a dream.’

Her demonic power could not resist this attack from the Holy Spirit. Suddenly I saw fear and uncertainty in her eyes.

Your prayers have a power that intimidates even the demons.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Mt 7:7–8 NLT

Empathy Softens Hard Hearts

 A senior councillor in a Canadian city was a women's rights activist. She was pro-choice and wanted to legalise prostitution. Pastors in her town visited her to explain her Christian views, but she wouldn't listen.

When the pastors came in, she said almost aggressively, 'You must know that
I am a feminist. A positive exchange was impossible.

As we were leaving, the senior pastor said, 'We want to pray for you. How can we pray?

The atmosphere changed dramatically and immediately. The councillor was really touched.

Pray that I will do a good job as a public servant.

The pastors prayed in exactly the same way. Gradually the councillor's attitude changed. She recognised the negative consequences of legalised prostitution, and her attitude to abortion also changed somewhat.

Here we see a principle that can be seen in the earthly ministry of Jesus.

Two blind men sat by the roadside and asked Jesus for help. How did Jesus respond? He did not preach repentance. He asked a question.

Jesus stood still and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?”
They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”

Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him. Mt 20:32–34 NRSV

When we take the longings and needs of our fellow human beings seriously and pray for them in this way, they understand that we respect and love them, and often they begin to become aware of God's reality and love.

There are people who don't want to hear a sermon or a testimony, but they have problems at work or in their family. Maybe they have a headache. If we take their problems seriously and pray for them, we will often see wonderful results.

Healings and Miracles Today

There are Christians who are enthusiastic about signs and wonders. Some of these Christians love Jesus with all their heart and have an intimate relationship with God.

Others seem to be enthusiastic about miracles, but their lives show no deep love for God and little love for their neighbour.

Jesus is our role model. His love for God and for us human beings moved him to sacrifice his life on the cross.

Through his death on the cross, his love was most clearly seen, but not only that. Everything Jesus did was motivated by his love.

We find the human life of God's Son in four books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

At the age of 30, he began his ministry as an itinerant preacher. Three years later he was arrested and executed on the cross.

A central aspect of his ministry was the signs and wonders, especially the very frequent miraculous healings.

We read again and again how his miracles were motivated by great compassion and mercy.

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Mt 14:14 NIV

His teaching and preaching were motivated by the same compassion and love.

His healing ministry was inseparable from his ministry as a teacher and preacher.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Mt 4:23 NIV

There was no sickness before the first man and woman disobeyed God. In a sermon by Peter in the book of Acts, we see that sickness is the work of the devil.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 NLT

After his resurrection, before he returned to the Father in heaven, Jesus declared that his disciples should continue the same supernatural ministry.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;  

they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mk 16:17–18 NIV

This is supposed to be the normal behaviour of Christians.

‘’These signs will follow those who believe...‘’ so not only apostles.

We find a similar statement in the Gospel of John.

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Jn 14:12 NIV

But didn't Jesus warn that we can work miracles and still be condemned as sinners?

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Mt 7:22–23 NIV

That is the tragic reality.

But some want to claim that all preachers in our time who really or supposedly work miracles are hypocrites.

Is it possible that a preacher blessed by God can work real miracles but end up being condemned as a sinner?

Judas Iscariot healed the sick, just as Peter and John did, but he betrayed Jesus and was condemned.

But if Jesus taught signs and wonders were important, we should also value miracles. He is our role model. We should believe for miracles and make sure we are motivated by love, as Jesus was and is.

 

WE CAN BE LIKE JESUS

What does it mean to be a Christian?

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (NIV) 

Many people say a little prayer confessing faith in Jesus and then they are told they are saved and on their way to heaven. Often it is true. 

A prostitute went to a church meeting and believed. She said a prayer receiving Jesus into her life and kept on going to church. 

• In following weeks she tried to be kind and helpful to people, even in her unholy workplace. She began to give generous offerings in church. 

Little by little she changed until the day came when she walked away from her life of prostitution. 

Her faith saved her.  

But evangelists can tell you that the majority of people who say a prayer of commitment in a meeting do not show evidence of a changed life a year later.

• Sadly it appears that conversion can either be a shallow ritual or it can be a deep redirection of a person’s whole life, beginning with a real conversion and transformation on the inside.

How did Jesus respond to faith? Sometimes He was excited.

Zacchaeus was a corrupt tax collector who became rich by ripping off his fellow Jews and sharing the spoils between the hated Romans and his own family.

When Jesus came to town, he climbed up a tree to see Jesus without being seen by the crowds. He know he was a hated man.

Jesus was always open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and He looked up and saw Zacchaeus hiding in the tree.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." Luke 19:5 (NIV)

Jesus saw what the Father was doing in this wretched man’s life. 

If we are living in the Holy Spirit, we will also have spiritual sixth sense to know what is happening secretly inside people’s hearts.

When Zacchaeus saw how Jesus loved and accepted him, his change of heart was dramatic and powerful.

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, 

• and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Luke 19:8 (NIV)

And how did Jesus respond to this?

Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:9-10 (NIV) 

Jesus reached out in love. He always listened to the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of the Father showed Him when people’s faith was genuine.

• We can also operate in the power and love of the Holy Spirit. 
• Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit we can also receive revelation and wisdom in practical situations. 

If we are moving in the Holy Spirit, we can touch people and see lives changed like Jesus did. 

• I was on a boat on a lake in Germany when I saw a lonely old woman sitting by herself. I went and talked to her. She told me the tragic story of her life and I wanted to help her. My wife and I talked to her and we listened a lot for hours. 

We cried out silently to God to give us some words from heaven to touch her heart.

• Then God answered and my wife shared the message God gave her.

She told the lonely woman of the beauty of heaven waiting for her. She began to weep and her life was changed for ever.

You are a Christian if God has deeply touched your heart on the inside and you have allowed Him to turn your life around. 

But it does not end there. 

God is calling us to be led by the Holy Spirit as Jesus was, to love people like Jesus and to lead many to know their Heavenly Father.