One definition for empathy: "the
action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and
vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of
another of either the past or present without having the feelings,
thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; also: the capacity for this" (Merriam-Webster)
Some people give this colloquial definition for empathy: the act of putting one's self in another person's shoes or walking a mile in the shoes of another.
Empathy is a good thing: right? What about having empathy for unbelievers (non-worshipers of Jehovah)? Is that ever allowed? Or should a Christian only empathize with his spiritual brothers and sisters?
Granted, Jehovah God empathized with his ancient people Israel (Isaiah 63:9; Zechariah 2:8). Yet, does that mean God does not feel empathy for those who don't serve Him, but who suffer daily? That is not the view of the biblical God: Jehovah reaches out to those who oppose Him and sin against the divine will (Romans 5:8). Furthermore, what does God (through the apostles) encourage His worshipers to do?
Besides weeping with those who weep and sharing in the joy of others (Romans 12:15), the apostle Paul exhorted first-century Christians to become imitators of God as beloved children and urged them to continue walking in love (Ephesians 5:1): empathy is an extension of Christian love (1 John 4:8).
So while Christians do not tolerate sin in their midst (Revelation 2:23), it is not sinful to feel empathy for those who weep--even for unbelieving ones who suffer (Matthew 5:43-45). Jehovah's Witnesses reach out to others with the good news of the Kingdom and they even provide material help to unbelievers at times, in imitation of their great God and Sovereign (Galatians 6:10). Moreover, we try to put ourselves in the place of others, to understand the pain they're feeling.
Of course, like any other quality, it's possible for empathy to become distorted. One could begin to make empathy the criterion for what's ultimately good or start to tolerate gross sins against Jehovah God as a result of "empathy." However, the misuse of empathy no more vitiates this fine quality than the misuse of love vitiates that quality. Therefore, it seems that Christians should be empathetic and sympathetic as directed by the scriptures.
See https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/2021/march/empathy-is-virtue.html
2 comments:
If one thinks of sin as illness, it makes more sense in my opinion, empathyzing with someone who is sick, even someone who hurts others through their sickness (mental illness) doesn't mean condoning it.
Good point. The Bible does the same thing as it parallels physical sickness with spiritual illness numerous times. For instance, in James 5:14-15. We're all infected with sin (spiritual sickness) but it affects us in different ways. Therefore, people need a certain degree of empathy, but that doesn't mean we empathize to the point that we never call out sinful acts.
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