Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently addressed an opinion piece by Hillary Clinton titled "MAGA's War on Empathy," offering a distinctively Christian perspective on the nature of empathy and its role in public discourse. His statement that "empathy is not a thing" has sparked significant discussion about the relationship between Christian theology and contemporary political language.
Understanding Mohler's Position
When Dr. Mohler states that "empathy is not a thing," he's not dismissing the importance of understanding others or showing compassion. Rather, he's making a theological distinction between secular concepts of empathy and biblical principles of love, mercy, and justice. This reflects a deeper concern about how language shapes our understanding of moral responsibility.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32
The Empathy Debate in Christian Context
The modern emphasis on empathy as a primary virtue has raised important questions within Christian theology. While empathy—the ability to understand and share the feelings of others—appears virtuous on the surface, some theologians argue that it can become problematic when divorced from objective moral standards and biblical truth.
Christians are called to something deeper than mere emotional resonance with others' experiences. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, which requires both understanding and action guided by divine truth rather than human emotion alone.
Beyond Feeling to Action
The biblical model goes beyond empathy to compassion—a love that moves us to action for the good of others, even when it's difficult or unpopular. Jesus didn't just feel for people; he acted decisively for their ultimate good, sometimes in ways that challenged their immediate desires.
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." - Matthew 9:36
Political Rhetoric and Christian Discourse
Mohler's response to Clinton's essay highlights a broader tension between political rhetoric and Christian principles. When political figures invoke concepts like empathy as weapons in cultural warfare, it often distorts both the concept itself and the underlying moral issues at stake.
Christians must be careful not to allow political language to redefine biblical concepts. Our response to social and political issues should be grounded in Scripture rather than shifting cultural definitions of virtues like empathy, tolerance, or compassion.
The Danger of Emotionalism
One concern with empathy-centered ethics is that they can lead to moral relativism and decision-making based purely on emotional appeal rather than objective truth. When empathy becomes the highest virtue, it can override justice, truth, and other biblical principles that sometimes require difficult decisions.
This doesn't mean Christians should be cold or unfeeling. Rather, our emotions should be informed by truth and guided by the Spirit of God rather than cultural expectations or political pressures.
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23
Love as the Higher Standard
The Christian alternative to secular empathy is love—specifically, the sacrificial love that Jesus demonstrated. This love is not merely emotional but involves the will, the mind, and action. It seeks the highest good for others, even when that means difficult conversations or uncomfortable truths.
This kind of love can address suffering and injustice more effectively than empathy alone because it's grounded in objective truth about human dignity and divine purpose rather than subjective emotional responses.
Practical Implications for Christians
How should Christians respond to calls for empathy in public discourse? We should affirm our commitment to understanding others, showing compassion, and working for justice while maintaining our commitment to biblical truth. This means:
Listening carefully to others' experiences and perspectives, working to understand their pain and struggles, while also maintaining fidelity to Scripture and the gospel. We can care deeply about others without accepting every cultural narrative about virtue or justice.
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." - 1 John 3:18
Moving Forward Thoughtfully
Dr. Mohler's response reminds us that Christians must think carefully about language and its implications. When we uncritically adopt secular virtue language, we risk losing the distinctiveness of Christian ethics and the clarity of biblical truth.
This doesn't mean withdrawing from public discourse or showing indifference to human suffering. Instead, it means engaging thoughtfully, with both compassion and conviction, offering the hope of the gospel rather than merely echoing cultural talking points.
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