I often preach a teaching style sermon. And this week is no different. And it’s a longish one too. But since I wasn’t able to post anything last week because of my trip to Alabama, I figure I had a lot of words stored up inside of me, and I guess that’s why I went long this week.
The title refers to a controversy online about whether or not Christians should have Empathy for other people. Some folks, particularly of my tradition, would say “yes, of course!”. But there are other Christians who have taken a different stance, going so far as to describe the desire to have empathy for another person as a deeply sinful act and one that rejects Christ.
That’s a pretty big difference. But it turns out to be one of mostly manufactured controversy and disagreemnt. It all depends how you define and understand “sympathy” and/or “empathy”.
I try to make my way through the argument, and take as my motiviation this week’s Gospel, the Parable of the Prodigal Son; probably the finest and clearest call to empathy to be found in the stories that Jesus taught us.
You can view the sermon directly at this link.
Thought provoking and very timely, Nick. Thank you.
Thank you for your sermon. So good to hear your voice. What has been on my mind and heart, though, has been how people who identify as Christian can justify cutting off humanitarian aid to so many people throughout the world. I was hoping you were going to go there, because I think that is a truly basic and key question for us these days. And how can we justify so many of the harsh things that are happening in our country right now? Is it an overuse of empathy to believe we have an obligation to care for those in need? Or to treat people who are being rounded up by ICE with respect and due process? Probably a totally different sermon. Peace, Carol