jt: I don't think so John. Empathy and fleshly compassion are close kin. Deliverance in the powerA close kin to "discernment" is something called "empathy." JD
of the Holy Spirit is close kin to real spiritual discernment - for those who want to be free that is.
Christ became like us to better serve us.
When I wrote Christ became like us to better serve us, I was speaking of much of what you write about below.
jt: He became like us so that he could die for us with the end being that we become like him eg:
"He made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness
of men; and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross" [Phil 2:7,8]
That is empathy incarnate.
jt: Going to the cross for us? That's for sure... No quarrel there..
I understand, however, that those who are not empathetic will see it as some sort of demon doctrine
jt: Are you holding to an "empathy" doctrine John? Absolutely. Got scritpure?
The ministry of Jesus is:
"To preach good tidings unto the meek; to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year
of the Lord, and the day of the vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto
them that mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment
of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting
of the Lord, that he might be glorified" [Isaiah 61:1-3]
-- denying its existence even in the life of Christ. JD
jt: I don't know that we should interpret what he did as just "empathy" John. He sent gifts to the
Church so that we could do something about it. I do not mean to say that it is "just" empathy. He physically cast several out of the temple. He healed. He often forgave sin, taught his disciples, preached the Word while being the Word. But my focus was on "empathy" as a brief comment, not on the life and teachings of Christ.
The tone of this post is much appreciated.
two v two
JD
