Empathy: A Christlike Heart

First Christian Church of Chicago
2 days ago
2 min read

When we talk about becoming like Jesus, we usually mention prayer, Bible study, moral choices, or service. These are vital, but there is one indispensable mark of Christlikeness: a heart of empathy for the oppressed, broken, defeated, and outcast. Without empathy, our imitation of Christ is incomplete.

Jesus: The Model of Empathy

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently moved toward the marginalized. He touched lepers, dined with tax collectors, welcomed children, restored women who were shamed, and defended the vulnerable. He wept at gravesides and had compassion on crowds who were “harassed and helpless” (Matthew 9:36).

Empathy is more than noticing another’s pain—it is entering into it. Paul urged believers to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). To ignore the hurting is to miss the central pattern of our Savior’s life.

Who Needs Our Empathy Today?

Empathy requires focus. Who are the “broken” among us now?

The Poor and Homeless: Often unseen, yet Jesus called us to care for “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40).
Refugees and Immigrants: Strangers in a new land who long for welcome and dignity.
The Elderly: Many live in isolation or neglect, though Scripture calls us to honor them.
The Incarcerated: Stigmatized and forgotten, yet Jesus identified Himself with them.
Those Facing Mental Health Struggles: Increasingly burdened by anxiety, depression, or trauma, they need patient compassion.
The Outcast Because of Sin: Whether through addiction, divorce, or failure, many feel exiled from faith communities. Jesus moved toward such people with grace.

How Can the Church Demonstrate Empathy?

Christlike empathy is both posture and practice. Here are ways we can embody it today:

Listen Deeply – Give people space to share without rushing to fix.
Show Up – Visit the sick, call the lonely, write to prisoners. Presence matters.
Practice Generosity – Share meals, provide clothing, or give financially to those in need.
Advocate for Justice – Use our voices to defend the voiceless and challenge systems of oppression.
Offer Safe Community – Create a church culture where the hurting find welcome, not shame.
Pray with and for Them – Prayer can be a powerful act of solidarity.

The Witness of Empathy

In a polarized world, empathy is countercultural. When the church embodies Christlike compassion, our witness shines brightest. People may forget our sermons but will not forget when we sat with them in grief, brought a meal in crisis, or welcomed them when others turned away.

Christlikeness is not measured by how much we know but by how deeply we love. Until our hearts break for the broken, our discipleship remains unfinished. To be like Christ is to love like Christ—bearing the burdens of the oppressed, broken, defeated, and outcast until His kingdom fully comes.