Member-only story

Featured

Why “The Sin of Empathy” is a Completely Toxic “Christian” Belief

The Dangerous Belief That Feeling Too Much For Others is a Sin

Dan Foster
Backyard Church
Published in
7 min read4 days ago
Image by shironosov on iStock

My first-ever funeral was for a father who died by suicide on Father’s Day.

No note.

No warning.

Just gone.

His sons found him that morning.

I was called to the family home — an outsider to their grief, a stranger in their pain. And when I walked through that door, I stepped into something I wasn’t sure I was ready for.

The grief wasn’t neat or polite in that room. It wasn’t a hushed conversation over a cup of tea. It was raw and messy — very messy. One moment, someone was weeping. The next, they were shouting, sitting in stunned silence, or demanding answers no one could give.

They didn’t need a sermon. They didn’t need a theological lecture on suffering. They needed someone who wouldn’t look away. Someone who wouldn’t try to smooth over the pain with easy answers. Someone willing to just be there.

And so I sat with them. Listened. Said almost nothing — because, honestly, what could I say? And at some point, I realized something:

Create an account to read the full story.

The author made this story available to Medium members only.
If you’re new to Medium, create a new account to read this story on us.

Or, continue in mobile web

Already have an account? Sign in

Backyard Church
Backyard Church

Published in Backyard Church

Thoughts on applying a 2000 year old religion to 21st Century life

Dan Foster
Dan Foster

Written by Dan Foster

Writer, Poet, Blogger: Tackling life, faith, culture, religion, politics, and spirituality. Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/DanFosterWriter

Responses (99)

Write a response

First they came for the transgender community. We make an easy target because we’re a small minority with no central voice or political power. It started with denying gender affirming care to youth and they’re now going after adult care. They’re…

The night of the cancelled concert, they could go stand in front of the Lincoln Memorial and sing 'We Shall Overcome' and invite anyone who want to, to join them.

I keep trying to sound the warning that the attack on Trans people was just the beginning. As an old history instructor I keep comparing Trump to Hitler and people get tired of hearing it. But people don't understand that Hitler first began with…