God is Love and, in empathy for us, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us even though we lived in sin.
The concept of "toxic empathy" highlights how empathy, when distorted or manipulated, can have negative consequences for individuals, societies, and cultures.
Yet this reasoning is the opposite of Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
| Concept/Term | Counterbalancing Scripture |
|---|---|
Civilizational Suicidal Empathy This phrase emphasizes how unchecked empathy can lead to the self-destruction of a civilization. |
Matthew 25:40 – The King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’– Jesus emphasizes the importance of caring for others, particularly the vulnerable, without the fear of it harming society. Compassion does not lead to the self-destruction of a civilization but strengthens communities. |
Great Replacement Theory This phrase reflects the fear that unchecked empathy for immigrants or outsiders could undermine the values or existence of a dominant culture or nation. |
Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.– The message of unity in Christ refutes divisive ideologies that promote fear of cultural or demographic changes. Empathy should break down barriers, not build them. |
The Empathy Exploit This idea says that certain individuals, groups, or ideologies might exploit others' natural feelings of compassion or concern to achieve their own goals, whether political, personal, or economic. |
Philippians 2:4 – Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.– Genuine empathy or love encourages selflessness, not manipulation. We are called to care for others without ulterior motives or exploitation. |
Ordo Amoris A Latin phrase meaning "order of love," this refers to the concept that love (and by extension, empathy) must be properly ordered. In the context of toxic empathy, this points to the idea that empathy, when misdirected or applied to the wrong things or people, can disrupt the natural order or power hierarchies. |
1 John 4:8 – Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.– True empathy stems from a divine order of love, which prioritizes genuine care for others. Empathy, when properly exercised, is an expression of God's love, and it does not need to be "ordered" by fear or exclusivity. |
The Sin of Empathy This implies that being overly compassionate or understanding in certain situations can lead to enabling harmful behavior, giving people a pass for destructive actions, or allowing unethical behavior to persist. |
Romans 13:10 – Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.– Love (and by extension, empathy) is never a sin; it is the fulfillment of God’s law. When applied in a godly manner, empathy leads to healing and restoration, not destruction. |
The Politics of Empathetic Manipulation and Victimhood This phrase critiques how some political or social movements use empathy to manipulate public opinion or gain power. |
Ephesians 4:29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.– Empathy should not be used as a tool for manipulation or exploitation. Genuine empathy encourages positive, beneficial outcomes, not divisive political power plays. |
Man-Eating Weed of Humanistic Mercy This evocative metaphor suggests that the kind of mercy or compassion being promoted is like an invasive weed that consumes or destroys everything in its path. |
Luke 6:36 – Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.– God’s mercy is a model for ours; it is not destructive but redemptive. True mercy uplifts and nurtures, rather than consuming or eroding the good in others. Human mercy is not wrong. It is the beginning steps, growing towards God's example of perfect mercy. I.e., He sacrificed His Son for sinners. |
God’s sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, is the ultimate act of self-sacrifice—a supreme demonstration of compassion and empathy for us, even when we were separated and foreign to His love. In our broken and estranged state, far from the perfection that God desired, He reached out in mercy and grace. His heart was moved by a deep empathy for each person who wandered away, and His compassionate love compelled Him to offer salvation, even at the cost of suffering and death. In Romans 5:8 we read, “But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This verse reminds us that Christ’s sacrifice was not contingent on our merit but was a pure expression of God’s love—He sent His Son while we were still ensnared by sin.
Jesus’ life and teachings are the embodiment of this sacrificial love. He willingly bore the burden of our sins, enduring the cross and even death, to reconcile us with the Father. His example is summed up in John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone should lay down his life for his friends.” Through His suffering, He taught us that true love is marked by selflessness—a willingness to suffer for the sake of another. He instructed us in Luke 6:29, “And if anyone takes away your garment, do not withhold your tunic also,” encouraging us to give beyond what is expected and to live a life of generosity and self-sacrifice.
However, this divine call extends beyond mere admiration of Christ’s act of sacrifice; it serves as a mandate for how we are to live. We are warned that if we do not show compassion, empathy, and self-sacrificial love, we will not enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus Himself stressed this in Matthew 25:40-45 “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Our actions toward our fellow human beings are a mirror of our love for Christ. A heart that is hardened and unyielding, failing to reach out in love, cannot partake in the eternal blessings of God’s kingdom.
We are called to resist the ideas and behaviors that strip us of the essence of Christ’s love. The world may present us with philosophies and temptations that lead to isolation, selfishness, or even a diminished sense of empathy. Yet we must stand firm and choose instead to walk in the footsteps of our Savior. As we strive to live out the compassion, empathy, and selfless love that Jesus displayed, we should expect that our path might not always be easy. Indeed, the Scriptures warn us that being more like Jesus may lead to persecution. In 2 Timothy 3:12-13 it is written, “But all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Accepting this truth, we are encouraged to persevere in our call to love, knowing that the reward of the kingdom far outweighs the temporary hardship.
Let us then embrace our divine calling and live each day with the same sacrificial love Christ has shown us. We are invited to be agents of grace in a broken world—to lay down our lives figuratively by serving others selflessly, even when it costs us dearly. In doing so, we honor the sacrifice of Jesus and become beacons of hope that draw others closer to the redeeming love of God.
love - neighbor
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible