There has been a growing movement among MAGA voices that says empathy isn’t a biblical value. If we’re being literal, it’s true that the word “empathy” isn’t in the Bible (depending on the version you use). Let me tell you, this idea is a complete misrepresentation of the truth, and comes from a political viewpoint, and not a Christian one. Who was more empathetic than Jesus? Did He feel no empathy for the many people He healed? Are we to believe Jesus felt no empathy for the sisters of Lazarus after he died? He certainly demonstrated the very heights of love when He died on the cross for our sins, and is it possible to exhibit love without empathy? I don’t believe love without empathy is possible.
But we should know this without even opening the Bible. What do you feel when your child falls and scrapes a knee? Do you get angry? I would hope not. Do you weep in sorrow? Probably not. No, any rational person would feel EMPATHY for their child who is hurting. To do so is right and proper.
So why the sudden fuss about empathy? Because if you can convince Christians that empathy is wrong, then you can get them to look away when government policies result in hardship and suffering. Like when ICE agents pull a teenage girl from her car, or ziptie children, or march detainees onto the back of a military transport aircraft wearing orange prison overalls. A lack of empathy makes it easier to swallow when millions of people suddenly can’t afford health insurance, or charities close because a significant portion of their funding came from the government—including ministries.
Whoa, I thought this was a church blog, not a political rant! You’re right. The things I’ve just listed may in fact be justifiable under the right circumstances. Cutting funding to charities may be necessary to balance the budget. Arresting otherwise law-abiding people because they are here illegally may be ultimately in our best interest. But the attack on empathy is intended to make Christians more agreeable to harsh policies. As I said, this is not a Christian position, but rather a political one.
Christians are free to vote for whoever they want, and support whatever policies they want. But it’s hypocritical for Christians to ignore empathy, when the One whom we are to be like was so clearly empathetic to those who suffered. Don’t be fooled by influencers who are trying to take advantage of you in the name of political power, but disguise it as Christianity. It is not.
