Keri Wyatt recently wrote about empathy. Timely thoughts on empathy. This is a tricky subject because both law and grace are important in the life of the believer. The law of love does preclude sinful behavior. In country where we say we are a governed by laws and where Christians are expected to submit to the governing authorities, law about, for example, immigration, are to be followed. However, law is to be tempered by grace. In the woman caught in adultery, Jesus takes into account the law, but extends the grace of forgiveness. Empathy must temper the cold harshness of law. Warren Wiesby once said, “Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.” I think that same could be said about law and grace and empathy. Law with out empathy is brutality, and empathy without law is hypocrisy. Bringing empathy and law together is difficult, but it is a difficulty that that loving our neighbor demands.
