As people made in God’s image, we were created to have feelings. God has feelings. He cares about his people. He gets angry with injustice and betrayal. He loves us more deeply than we will ever understand. Jesus demonstrated the full spectrum of emotions. In this writing, we will consider sympathy.
Sympathy is the sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others. It is caring about others and their difficulties and problems. It is concern for the vulnerable (kids, the elderly, the impaired, etc.). Empathy is vital for any good relationships. The counselor Gary Collins identified empathy as one of the important elements to a successful marriage. He identifies empathy as, “a sensitivity to the hurts and needs of others and a willing attempt to see the world from the other person’s perspective.”[1]
This approach to life fits in well with being a Christian. Paul tells us to consider others more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). We are to care for others in their distress the way Jesus did (Luke 7:11-17). It says in Luke 7:13 that Jesus’ heart went out to the woman. The verb here is σπλαγχνίζομαι (splagchnizomai) in the Greek. It means to be moved in your inward parts. We translate it as compassion (com-together, passion). We see this in Luke 10:33 where the Good Samaritan was moved to help. It is the word used of the father who sees his prodigal son returning. Compassion is what motivated Jesus to heal the man born blind (Matthew 20:34). (See also Matthew 14:14, Mark 1:41). In Mark 6:34 we are told it was what motivated Jesus to teach. Compassion was the driving force behind Jesus’ ministry. We should follow His example.
What does the Scripture say?
The Psalms are filled with examples of people feeling deeply before their God.
Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Paul told the Philippians he had them in his heart (Philippians 1:7).
Love is the mark of the Christian (1 John 3:14).
1 John 4:7 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
What would cause a person to become indifferent, closed off to the needs of others?
Like most things, we can put ourselves on a path where we become more sympathetic.
Becoming like Christ not only means thinking the right things. It is also feeling the right things. We are told to guard our hearts (Proverbs 24:3). This means making sure our hearts are healthy and aligned with God’s.
[1] Christian Counseling, pg. 148
Sympathy is the sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others. It is caring about others and their difficulties and problems. It is concern for the vulnerable (kids, the elderly, the impaired, etc.). Empathy is vital for any good relationships. The counselor Gary Collins identified empathy as one of the important elements to a successful marriage. He identifies empathy as, “a sensitivity to the hurts and needs of others and a willing attempt to see the world from the other person’s perspective.”[1]
This approach to life fits in well with being a Christian. Paul tells us to consider others more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). We are to care for others in their distress the way Jesus did (Luke 7:11-17). It says in Luke 7:13 that Jesus’ heart went out to the woman. The verb here is σπλαγχνίζομαι (splagchnizomai) in the Greek. It means to be moved in your inward parts. We translate it as compassion (com-together, passion). We see this in Luke 10:33 where the Good Samaritan was moved to help. It is the word used of the father who sees his prodigal son returning. Compassion is what motivated Jesus to heal the man born blind (Matthew 20:34). (See also Matthew 14:14, Mark 1:41). In Mark 6:34 we are told it was what motivated Jesus to teach. Compassion was the driving force behind Jesus’ ministry. We should follow His example.
What does the Scripture say?
The Psalms are filled with examples of people feeling deeply before their God.
Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Paul told the Philippians he had them in his heart (Philippians 1:7).
Love is the mark of the Christian (1 John 3:14).
1 John 4:7 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
What would cause a person to become indifferent, closed off to the needs of others?
- A person can become indifferent because they are extremely selfish and self-centered. This is overcome by Christian disciplines, training your heart and mind to align with God’s. It takes time, but God will transform us if we are on His path.
- Indifference can mask a fear of being hurt by others. This can be brought on by early experiences in life where the person was damaged emotionally. This hurt can become hatred. And the longer we hate, the more messed up we get emotionally. The only thing that will free us is forgiveness. Christian counseling, Christian friends, and Christian disciplines can help us overcome these hurts and become free to feel.
- Some in professions where they deal day in and day out with other’s problems can become insensitive. This happened to me when I was a pastor. I saw so many people who were in terrible life circumstances, that I became overwhelmed. In time, I built a wall to shield my heart. This was something I had to overcome.
- There are also some people who have identifiable conditions that make it hard for them to identify with the needs of others. Asperger’s Syndrome is a form of Autism that makes it hard for people to socialize and have relationships. People with Asperger’s can learn to overcome their symptoms with training and help.
Like most things, we can put ourselves on a path where we become more sympathetic.
- Exercise Christian disciplines. Worship, pray, read the Bible and meditate on it, get involved in ministry, obey God, live under Jesus’ lordship in all you do, and fellowship with other believers. This is the most important thing you can do to soften your heart toward others. Receiving God’s mercy, makes us merciful, being forgiven by God sets us free to forgive, seeing how Jesus cared for others makes us want to follow His example.
- Coming to terms with the amazing forgiveness that comes to us in Christ causes us to be willing to forgive all those who have hurt us in the past.
- Being empathetic requires us to bring down our walls of self-protection. This only happens when we are confident in who we are in Christ.
Becoming like Christ not only means thinking the right things. It is also feeling the right things. We are told to guard our hearts (Proverbs 24:3). This means making sure our hearts are healthy and aligned with God’s.
[1] Christian Counseling, pg. 148
