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The response to Charlie Kirk’s death: Empathy is good, but it can become unbiblical, even contra scriptura

Because love warns (Prov. 27:6, Eph. 5:11), I say these truths with love.

Being empathetic is a good attribute. But when our empathy is untethered from the truths of sound doctrine, that empathy is a worldly emotion. We can say the same with love. There is a Biblical love, and a worldly sensual love. As well as repentance. There is a Biblical repentance, and a worldly repentance (2 Cor. 7:10), and so on.

Since the unfortunate death of political activist Charlie Kirk, I’ve said nothing about it until now.

We see this unbiblical empathy and emotionalism in response to his death, as well as the deaths of previous celebrities. Our emotions can overcome a sound mind. It’s idolatry to say the least.

Since Charlie Kirk’s death two days ago, we have seen Republicans and many professing Christians nearly deifying Kirk. Even knowing Kirk has no problem giving or sharing various platforms with Arminians, Atheists, Mormons, ecumenicalism, false teachers, heretics, homosexuals, and egalitarianism (here, here, here, or here and so on). Kirk also wrongfully teaches the lost world that “Jesus loves” them and atoned for their sins. His universalism and unlimited atonement are heresy. For an excellent rebuke of this false teaching, click here. All the while, many Republicans and America’s Christendom empathetically affirm, accept, tolerate, or acquiesce to the aforementioned false teachings and sins.

I say this to men specifically. Frankly, I’m concerned about how some pastors responded on social media.

Men, we are wired differently from ladies. So don’t let your emotions get the best of you. True, we don’t want to be heartless, but we don’t want to be gutless either. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV) “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

I appreciate Matthew Henry on what it means to “act like men.”

“He advises them to act like men, and be strong: “Act the manly, firm, and resolved part: behave strenuously, in opposition to the bad men who would divide and corrupt you, those who would split you into factions or seduce you from the faith: be not terrified nor inveigled by them; but show yourselves men in Christ, by your steadiness, by your sound judgment and firm resolution.” Note, Christians should be manly and firm in all their contests with their enemies, in defending their faith, and maintaining their integrity. They should, in an especial manner, be so in those points of faith that lie at the foundation of sound and practical religion, such as were attacked among the Corinthians: these must be maintained with solid judgment and strong resolution.”

Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 2278.

Christian men are not called to be overly empathetic. In short, we are called to be masculine men of courage, to be strong in the Lord, on guard, vigilant, to earnestly contend for the faith, doctrine, and Biblical ecclesiology (Jude 3), and to do so in love. For a comprehensive commentary by John Gill on 1 Corinthians 16:13, read that and updated remarks in the comments section below.

In the meantime, there are many passages that warn and instruct about doctrine; below are two of many. Doctrine matters: don’t be the pronoun that Paul warned about in 2 Timothy 4:3-5.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Paul also said in 1 Timothy 4:12-16.

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

This word “sound” in 2 Timothy 4 is the Greek word hugiainō. It is mentioned 12+ times in the Bible. It means to be safe and sound, to be well, to be in good health. And our opinions would be “free from any mixture of error.”

This word “doctrine” in 1 Timothy 4 is the Greek word didaskalia. It is mentioned 21 times. For men it is an authoritative act to teach, instruction in doctrine and precepts.

Let us not merely believe that God is sovereign in all things at all times, but by faith, let us act like we believe it, let us act like men.

The idolatry and celebrity worship of Charlie Kirk have been sinister. Let us repent from idolizing man. God is a jealous God (Ex. 20:5,34:14), and as I often warn, the judgment of Almighty God is inevitable.

There’s only one man who “changed the world,” that is The Man Christ Jesus. And it’s His perfect life and death that Christians ought to be infatuated with. And that is why I’m a fan and follower of only one man: The Man Christ Jesus. Read about the perfect sinless life and death of Jesus here or below.

https://www.theexpositor.tv/the-good-news/

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