Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“A new commandment I give to you: that you love one another—just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.“

John 13:34-35

Empathy is a word used a lot these days. It is defined as understanding and sharing the feelings of another. But that is a false definition. I do not need to share your feelings to understand how you feel. Empathy is about hearing with active listening about a person’s feelings from experiences they have had or endured and taking the time to understand them as a person, especially how they did or do feel. This information is never used to judge them, persecute them, attack them, or hold prejudice against them. This information does not need to be taken in and shared by yourself. This information should always be regarded in the light of TRUTH – not the lived experiences of the individuals (often called ‘their’ truth), but not discounting them either. Jesus was, and is, very empathetic. Ruach HaKodesh is also very empathetic. Neither one compromised TRUTH – that’s the objective truth of Adonai’s point of view and moral character. If being empathetic meant that you had to feel the same way they felt, there would be no room for a saviour (Romans 3:23) and no need for correction (Hebrews 12:5-11). We know both to be true.

We are not called to invalidate how someone else feels. We are also not called to agree with how someone else feels. Jesus didn’t agree with those who were broken: He healed them. So while He did not deny what they were experiencing, He did not agree with them that they were supposed to be broken (John 9:1-7). Jesus saw them as they were meant to be, and asked them if they would accept the correction of their current condition. It happened again and again and again. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who remained changeless after a meeting with Jesus outside of those who had determined in their hearts to oppose Him. Jesus loved and Jesus’ love transformed those around Him. Nothing has changed. We His disciples are called to love in the same way that Jesus loved.

We will be identified by this Jesus kind of love because it is so foreign to the world. What good is worldly empathy? You end up perpetuating harmful ideas and practices because no one is speaking TRUTH to them. Instead, the world hears how someone feels and works to agree with that someone – regardless of the truth. They do this because they do not want to acknowledge an objective truth – it would make them experience guilt and/or shame for those ideas and practices contrary to that objective truth. They don’t want to feel negative things. That’s the foundation of worldly empathy. It is an attempt for everyone to collectively work together to erase the need for anyone to feel negative things about their ideas or practices because everyone else will agree that what they are doing, saying, or feeling is ‘normal’ and therefore acceptable. This is a dangerous way to act because it not only lets those doing harm to themselves continue to harm themselves, it makes it easier for others to join them in those things which are doing harm. If we are going to love them like Jesus, we will need to be empathetic HIS way.

Jesus always spoke the truth, but He only took umbrage with those who KNEW better – the teachers of the Law of Moses (Pharisees, Scribes. and Sadducees). Jesus was truthful, but kind. Jesus did not pull punches, but was gentle. Jesus loved with an active love which decried ungodly behaviour and encouraged reliance on Adonai to take up and perform godly behaviour. He did this by quoting the Word, teaching the Word, preaching the Word, and proving that what He said was true because of the signs and miracles no man could do which confirmed Adonai was with Him and not against Him. Jesus did not come to CONDEMN the world, but to provide a Way for humanity to come back to Adonai permanently – instead of relying on physical sacrifices to ‘cover’ what He offered to CLEANSE. That is one of the reasons WE can empathize so effectively with other human beings. We were ALL in the same boat and outside of Jesus ARE all in the same boat. How can I justly judge someone of the same thing I was guilty of? Our individual sins will differ, but we were all born of Adam so we were in SIN in our nature and we all have SINNED. It’s like a baby being born in a country and then saying the baby isn’t that nationality because they aren’t old enough to choose their citizenship. They were born American or English or German or South Korean because they were born in that country. That’s what MADE them that. Being born human means being born of a corrupt seed (Adam’s) and therefore possessing a broken nature (sinful). Until a child grows up enough to know good from evil they cannot commit INDIVIDUAL sins, but they have that nature. We ALL had the same. Same boat. We CAN empathize.

In addition, we have Ruach HaKodesh inside us. So we can learn about someone’s feelings and experiences and acknowledge them, but we don’t have to feel the same. We can rely on Ruach HaKodesh to help us hear a given person’s real issues and feelings. We can rely on Ruach HaKodesh for what we should or shouldn’t say. We have Ruach HaKodesh to teach us how we can go forward in our interactions with a person, without condemnation or judgment or prejudice, because HE IS LOVE and will ALWAYS teach us how to love another human properly. Jesus always spoke and acted from love. Jesus was always empathetic. Jesus acknowledged prejudice and even used well-known examples as a teaching tool, but Jesus wasn’t prejudiced. He didn’t condemn (John 3:17-18), He challenged people to become the people Adonai always meant them to be. To be better in Himself than they could ever be on their own. Jesus LOVED them. Jesus NEVER desired them to stay the way they were. Jesus ALWAYS desired them to get right with Adonai and continue through life hand in hand. THAT is how we are commanded to love. THAT is how we will be able to be empathetic. Our ally is Adonai. Our model is Jesus. And our teacher, instructor, corrector, and guide is Ruach HaKodesh. This is how we can be light in darkness and salt in blandness. We transform where we find ourselves by cooperating with what Adonai wants to do in, through, and because of Jesus. Amen.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans that I am planning concerning you,’ declares Yahweh, ‘plans for prosperity and not for harm, to give to you a future and a hope.” The Israelites were besieged. The country was invaded. Conditions were horrible. A bad end was coming. And it was all because they had refused to worship Adonai with their whole hearts. In fact, Adonai had spent decades upon decades telling them what was coming, how it could be avoided, and PLEADING with them to listen. They refused. Here they were in an EXTREME mess and Adonai is telling them His plans for them? They were NEVER bad. They were ALWAYS good and they CONTINUED to be good and have a HOPE within them. In spite of our hard-heartedness, Adonai didn’t plan bad for us. Adonai didn’t send it to teach us something. Adonai didn’t fail to act. Adonai wanted ALL GOOD THINGS for us. That is a HUGE comfort in this fallen world full of fallen people, all of whom have the free will to disobey. Adonai LOVES us. He wants GOOD THINGS for us. He always has. He always will. He can be relied on as THE source of GOOD in the world. That is a blessing. What a GOOD God!

Your Daily Confession of Elohim’s Goodness:

I taste and see that Yahweh is good; I am blessed because I take refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8