They’ll tell you it’s love. That it’s Christlike. That feeling someone’s pain is all the righteousness you need. When empathy takes truth’s place, it stops healing the wounded and starts blessing the infection.
True compassion confronts sin. Empathy excuses it. Scripture never tells us to feel everyone’s pain at the cost of truth. It calls us to love by walking in obedience to God’s commandments.
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments.” (1 John 5:2–3)
Empathy has become a moral tyrant. It demands silence in the face of rebellion. It trains Christians to feel instead of think, to accept instead of discern, to confuse affirmation with holiness. It calls good “kindness” and evil “judgmentalism.” But the love of God is never severed from the law of God.
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” (Proverbs 27:6)
Biblical compassion speaks the truth, even when the truth hurts. Jesus didn’t confuse pity and approval. When Peter tried to spare Him from suffering, Jesus rebuked him: “You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matthew 16:23). That was perfect love that refused to let emotion overthrow obedience.
“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15)
When empathy becomes the standard, discernment becomes the enemy. Churches are filled with those who mistake softness for grace and tolerance for mercy. But empathy that refuses to confront sin is not love at all. It is cowardice claiming to be sentiment.
Semper Reformanda
Objection: “But didn’t Jesus show empathy to sinners?”
Response: Jesus showed compassion, not indulgence. He healed, forgave, and restored those who repented. He never comforted rebellion. His mercy always led to holiness.
Objection: “Shouldn’t we be sensitive to people’s pain?”
Response: Yes. But compassion must serve truth, not replace it. Feelings are not the measure of righteousness. God’s commandments are. To love someone is to lead them toward obedience, not to affirm their sin.
Truth That Withstands
If you elevate empathy over obedience, you will trade the cross for comfort. True love bleeds for sinners. It never blesses sin. The church must recover compassion that corrects, mercy that magnifies Christ, and hearts that love enough to wound for the sake of truth.