THINKING CHRISTIANLY ABOUT COMPASSION
April 29th | Pastor Gino
This week, I wanted to do something a little different. The world we live in has changed rapidly over the last decade. It’s hard to believe that many young people, now in there 20’s, haven’t even heard of 9/11. Covid has shattered any trust we may have had in government, and identity politics has infected every area of life as we know it today. Never has there been a time, in our lifetimes, when the biblical admonition of shrewdness has been more important. In other words, as Christians we must grow in our discernment and understanding of the world around us if we are going to be salt and light in our efforts to make disciples, grow the Kingdom, and glory in Christ (Luke 16:8; 1 John 4:1; Romans 12:2 for ref.).
One of the ways in which many Christians continue to be duped today is in the area of compassion. Because Christian’s are compassionate people, and because they value compassion as a biblical command, they have become easy targets for what has become known as ‘toxic empathy’ or what I like to call ‘woke compassion’. This is the idea of compassion at the expense of truth. While it’s not new, it is being used in ways that take advantage of the Christian virtue of true compassion and biblical love for our neighbor. For example, abortion is no longer called murder, but rather women’s health care; transgenderism is no longer a psychological issue, but rather a transwoman is actually a woman; and pedophiles are no longer criminals, but rather minor-attracted people (or MAP’s). To think or say differently is to lack empathy or to be uncompassionate. While there is pushback occurring against these ideas, they are still prevalent in large portions of society.
So, how can we become more discerning in both, understanding the times we live in, and how to think and live in a more biblical way? I would like to recommend a couple of resources to you that I have spent time with myself and have benefited from greatly.
Al Mohler is the president of Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has spent a large portion of his life helping Christians understand culture and how to engage it. In recent months, he has interviewed two guests on his program Thinking In Public. The first is Allie Beth Stuckey who has written a book called Toxic Empathy. The second guest is Joe Rigney who has written a book called The Sin of Empathy. Stuckey is more winsome in her approach and easy to follow. Rigney is more academic in his approach and drills down on the issue more completely. I would recommend starting with Stuckey and then moving on to Rigney. I have provided the links to both of their interviews as well as their books below. I hope they will benefit you in your pursuit to think Christianly. I pray that these resources will become even more popular as we strive to reach others with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Thinking in Public: with Allie Stuckey
Allie Stuckey: Toxic Empathy
Thinking In Public: with Joe Rigney
