Empathy
Yesterday, while listening to the news, I heard the single most absurd statement I can ever remember hearing, and I heard it from a man who calls himself a Christian preacher:
“Empathy is anti-Christian.”
I couldn’t believe my ears – this wasn’t some conspiracy network, this was NPR. I figured it was a one off kook, until the story continued and they explained that this is a growing movement within Christian Nationalism, and that has many proponents in our government. I turned it off before they could tell me the names of the specific proponents of this theory. I don’t want to know.
To anyone who professes this viewpoint, especially any priests or pastors, or anyone in a position of authority:
SHAME ON YOU. I will call out this sin every single day of the week, and all the fear running around the country right now may be able to scare me enough to shut me up about damn near every other topic, but I flatly refuse to remain silent on this.
To anyone who feels attracted to this idea, who finds themselves drawn in by the fear that their kindness is being manipulated and used against them, who feels like empathy has been ‘weaponized’ against them or those they love, who truly is trying to follow in the footsteps of the Jewish carpenter who was tortured, murdered and then raised from the dead to show us He is God, He loves us to the bitter end, He forgives even our participation in His torture, and asks nothing in return but that we love one another as He has loved us: take a step back, read the scriptures FOR YOURSELF, and pray. God gave you the ability to see reason, if only you can quiet your fear and pain long enough to listen for the still, silent voice. Notice all the people yelling at you to STOP BEING EMPATHETIC, YOU IDIOT, THEY’RE USING YOU. Then notice the people you’re being asked to be empathetic toward, and you’ll quickly see it’s the silenced. Some examples:
People who are struggling so much with themselves, with understanding who they are, that they feel like they are in the wrong body – can you imagine that kind of mental anguish???? What if that was your child??? Would you beat the anxiety out of them, or scream at them until they feel good about themselves???? Which is the correct non-empathetic answer??? OR, would you ask them about the thoughts that got them here, try to understand, disentangle those issues, and help them feel whole and worthy of love??? I hope the latter.
How about the homeless person on the side of the road. You want him gone so desperately. Why? Because he’s dangerous??? How do you know that? Because he’s homeless??? Because one of Minnesota’s state legislators was just caught trying to hire a 17 year old prostitute. Isn’t he more dangerous than the person who will do not but ask for some change? So, how good are you REALLY at judging people by their appearances?
Did you see that coming? (No you did not, you liar.)
I’m probably coming off as incredibly confrontational.
GOOD.
Because this country is unwell
Not the government, not one party, not one person.
This COUNTRY is dying.
We’re the butt of the world’s jokes, and have been for nearly a decade now, since we started this process of debating which man was too old for the job, the one in his early 80’s or upper 70’s…. let’s not, you know, maybe try electing someone who hasn’t been integral in building the exact systems we claim we despise – whether a corrupt corporate structure or governmental, the whole thing is rotten, and our response has been to put the people who introduced the mold spores in charge of it’s eradication.
Good move, voters of America!!!
“But we had to chose between Trump and Harris. Which are you suggesting that we vote for?”
NEITHER.
And until that answer stops being ridiculous, you’re SCREWED. And frankly, you deserve what you’re getting. You’ve had plenty of opportunity to empower other parties and force the Democrats and Republicans to actually come to the table. But no. And why not? Because you don’t know anything except what has been shoved in front of your face by social and legacy media. And why do I use the second person, instead of the collective first – after all, I’m here in America too.
I don’t get to participate in this country, you have deemed me unworthy. I’ve never been eligible to vote in a national election. But I’ll tell you, both parties are idiots for not pushing to give incarcerated people the vote – whichever party did would immediately guarantee themselves a MASSIVE loyalty by justice-affected Americans, who number in the millions.
We could fix this problem if only we would see each other as human, and try to see things from the other’s perspective.
And in reality, people, that is ALL empathy is.
God became man, giving us the ultimate example of empathy.
Show empathy to someone you normally wouldn’t today – that’s your Lenten penance for today. You might learn something, and you will be a better person for it.
