*The Sin of Empathy: A Biblical and Psychological Reflection* By. Dr. Michael Napier In a world that elevates emotionalism over truth, we must be discerning about the forces that shape our hearts and minds. Empathy, often praised as the highest virtue, can become a dangerous counterfeit of biblical compassion when untethered from truth. While Scripture calls us to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), it does not command us to surrender discernment or to be swept away by the emotional tides of another’s suffering. Joe Rigney’s *The Sin of Empathy* exposes how unchecked empathy demands that we not only feel with others but that we adopt their perspective entirely, forsaking objective truth for subjective experience. This is where empathy becomes a sin—it leads us away from the firm foundation of God’s Word and into the unstable waters of emotional manipulation. Rigney critiques how modern culture weaponizes pity to pressure believers into affirming sinful behaviors, replacing biblical discernment with emotional coercion (Rigney 2025, 45). Consider Christ’s example. He was moved with compassion (Matthew 9:36), but He never allowed Himself to be emotionally manipulated. He did not weep with the Pharisees when they rejected Him, nor did He affirm the rich young ruler’s sorrow when he walked away from truth (Mark 10:22). Christ’s love was steadfast, rooted in righteousness, not in emotional entanglement. From a Biblical Psychology perspective,

Republicans justifying not caring for anyone but themselves. Not very Christian if you ask me.

Everyone needs to read this book!!!

Great book - Although the title is made to be controversial, the book lays out a good history of the word 'empathy' and the dangers with how it's used today. Beyond the word, it also shows the worldview that's putting more emphasis on being stuck in a bad situation with someone's feelings vs. being able to help them through it by staying emotionally stable yourself.

When Democrats are flying to an El Salvador prison to fight for the release of a deported illegal alien, who committed multiple crimes yet allowing other egregious atrocities to happen on our soil (i.e. abortion, transing kids), you know empathy is being used for evil.

Cogent, timely, enlightening. Explains so much.

This book is a sobering temperature check of the visible church today, and how it got here. I prefer books written by dead guys, but for anyone who doesn’t want their head in this sand, this is a helpful read. I appreciated the succinct explanation of recent events, and how they shaped current ideology.

The truths expressed in this book are needed by the Church now more than ever! I am so grateful for the clarity the author provides.

This book is outstanding. I’m a biblical counselor and domestic violence advocate who flirted heavily with the quicksand of empathy before I saw the Man Rampant episode after which this book is named. Dr. Rigney has helped me be more courageous and wise as I care for people. I am much more steadfast and immovable now, which is great because you can’t export to others what you yourself do not possess. This teaching has been crucial to my growth.

Excellent book! I read this with my children as part of our homeschool curriculum. Easy to understand, very practical material, and necessary reading for believers who are being pressured to follow the '11th Commandment': Be Nice. I really appreciate Joe's perspective and highly recommend this book.