Scripture teaches us in Hebrews 4:15 that Jesus is the ultimate example of empathy. The almighty Creator of the universe became flesh, and knows all of our sufferings and temptations. Scripture teaches us in Romans 12:15-16 to be empathetic toward each other. Empathy, when properly directed, is not a sin.
Empathy can be suicidal or toxic, and then becomes sinful. Importing radical Muslim terrorists into our country is suicidal empathy. Allowing a child murderer to go free is toxic empathy. These types of empathy - ignoring the needs of the innocent and abandoning them to predators - are terribly wicked. This is especially wicked when those entrusted with the sword by God abandon their duty to protect the innocent and instead empathize with predators and criminals.
This is why we cannot take an "all or nothing" position on empathy. It can be wicked and it can be good. That is the problem with Pastor Doug Wilson's recent article on psychotic empathy. Wilson argues that once one empathizes with someone, they adopt a tribal mentality and are "all in" on one side or another. We see this in truly deranged fantasies about the Lindsay Clancy case, with wicked and evil lies spread by her cult about Patrick Clancy. These "women" have so much empathy for Lindsay Clancy that they cannot muster up even the smallest bit of human decency for a man who found his children brutally murdered. We should never allow our empathy to lead us into becoming part of a cult.
When is empathy good and when is it sinful? Well, that's where the rubber meets the road. Good empathy can become toxic or suicidal when allowed to run unchecked, but toxic empathy can become good when it is restrained and refocused on protecting the innocent. Sometimes that line is obvious. But knowing when it crosses over often requires wisdom and discernment, and we will often make the wrong call. Life is not a spreadsheet where you can plug in a formula and it will always work. Moral standards are always black and white, but applying those standards is often muddled. All we can do is pray that God will give us wisdom, and apologize if we are wrong. We have to do the hard work.
"All or Nothing" and empathy
Moral standards are always black and white, but applying those standards is often muddled.
