Empathy is not Toxic

"Empathy almost needs to be struck from the Christian vocabulary... Empathy is dangerous. Empathy is toxic. Empathy will align you with hell." - Josh McPherson on the Strong Men Nation podcast

I remarked before on how Russell Moore has reported that pastors are telling him they can't preach on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, especially the Beatitudes, because people in their congregations complain it's "too soft" or "too leftist." The attack on empathy that we currently see - including in newly released books as well as in speeches, podcasts, and debates - I think is coming from a similar type of church attender.

I would understand if the attack on empathy was coming from the secular world, but the fact that it's coming from within the Church is mind-boggling. Speaking against empathy or calling it "toxic" and "dangerous" is certainly not a Biblical teaching. It also does not align with Church history.

So where does it come from?

Perhaps, first, we should pause to define "empathy."

Brene Brown (author, social worker, speaker) defines empathy as "feeling with people." Empathy is reaching inside of ourselves to find something that allows us to connect to what another person is feeling. Furthermore, it's imagining ourselves in their shoes. Seeing things from their perspective. 

Dr. Daniel Goleman (psychologist, author) has said, "Empathy is the bridge that connects hearts and minds." 

Frans de Waal (previously a professor at Emory University who studied empathy) even said, "Human morality is unthinkable without empathy."

Sounds like empathy is a good thing, doesn't it? Even, maybe, a Jesus thing?

So then, why are so many Christians calling empathy "toxic"? 

It's not from the Bible. It's not from traditional doctrine or theology. Rather, I believe this teaching is rising from the growing cultural influence of the "America first" theology and Christian nationalism that is spreading in our churches. 

The argument, as I understand it, is that empathy can bring Christians to not only share in the suffering of others (which I guess is a bad thing?), but perhaps also be complicit with their sin. The concern seems to be that by having empathy for others, perhaps by extension also having love and mercy towards others, we are failing to recognize their sin and therefore may also be drawn into it ourselves.

I reject this argument simply because Jesus showed incredible empathy for humanity... and yet never once sinned.

Consider Jesus weeping at the tomb of Lazarus. Or the number of times the gospels say He was "moved by compassion" to help people and meet their needs. Isn't that empathy?

Hebrews 4:15 is talking about Jesus when it says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." Jesus can empathize with our weakness because He also once walked in flesh (Philippians 2). The word in the Greek that the NIV translates as "empathize" literally means "to suffer with." Jesus can suffer with us, because He walked in our shoes. This is the very definition of empathy.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1 that God is the "God of compassion" and of "all comfort" who comforts us so that we might comfort others. Isn't that empathy?

In Romans 12:15, he says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Isn't that empathy?

In Philippians 2:4, he says we shouldn't consider only our own interests but also the interests of others. Isn't that empathy?

The apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 3:8 that we should love one another and be compassionate.  Isn't that empathy?

Empathy is not a toxic, "leftist," "woke" idea. It's a God-follower thing. It's a Jesus-thing.

Bring back empathy.

WANT TO READ MORE... pick up my newly released book, "Letters to the Jaded Evangelical: Finding Jesus in the Shards of Religion." Available in e-book and paperback format; free to read for Amazon KU subscribers.