A Divine Test of Empathy: How Modern Issues Reveal the State of the Human Heart
Throughout history, humanity has been tested in subtle and profound ways—not through grand miracles or cataclysms, but through everyday decisions that reveal the depth of our empathy, compassion, and love for one another. Many of the most pressing issues of our time serve as divine litmus tests, quietly asking: Will you choose love over judgment? Sacrifice over selfishness? Life over convenience?
1. The LGBTQ+ Community: A Test of Non-Judgment
One of the most significant tests concerns how we treat those in the LGBTQ+ community. This is not a test of agreement, but of empathy—of whether we can choose not to judge or condemn those whose paths or identities we may not fully understand. When people are shaped by countless variables—biological, psychological, societal—most of which lie beyond their control, to judge them is to violate one of Jesus’ most fundamental teachings: judge not, lest you be judged. This was and remains a spiritual test: could we love unconditionally, even when we don’t fully understand?
2. The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Test of Sacrifice for the Greater Good
The pandemic posed another global test—one of collective responsibility. It asked each of us: Can you endure a minor inconvenience for the sake of protecting others? Wearing a mask, getting vaccinated—these were small acts with large implications. In countries like Japan, such acts are routine out of respect for others. But in many parts of America, even the smallest gesture to protect the vulnerable was framed as an unbearable burden. It was heartbreaking to witness how many failed this test—not out of inability, but out of unwillingness to be temporarily uncomfortable for the sake of others.
3. Abortion: A Complex Test of Life and Responsibility
Though abortion remains a deeply complex and ethically nuanced issue, it too raises a vital question: Are we willing to prioritize life, even when the path to preserving it is inconvenient or difficult? While tragic cases like rape and incest require deep compassion and moral sensitivity, the majority of abortions stem from unplanned pregnancies that might have been preventable. At its heart, this issue mirrors the test of COVID: Will you endure hardship—physical, emotional, financial—if it means preserving another human life? The answer, ideally, should reflect a heart inclined toward care, sacrifice, and empathy.
4. Universal Healthcare: A Test of Shared Responsibility
Healthcare presents another moral crossroad: Would you be willing to pay slightly more in taxes if it meant your fellow citizens could access life-saving care? For many, the answer was no—revealing a troubling preference for money over mercy. Yet this too was a divine test: Do you value your wealth more than your neighbor’s well-being? To choose healing for all over personal financial comfort is a deeply spiritual act—one that aligns with the ethic of love central to nearly every major faith tradition.
5. Gun Reform: A Test of Priorities
America’s gun culture represents one more test of conscience. With countless lives lost to gun violence, the question becomes painfully simple: Do you value access to weapons more than the safety of your fellow citizens? When even modest reforms are resisted, despite mass shootings and rising death tolls, it’s clear that for many, the idol of personal freedom has eclipsed the sanctity of human life. This, too, is a failed test of empathy.
The reliance on guns for protection and defense reflects a deeper abandonment of trust in the Holy Spirit and our divine Source. True safety comes not from weaponry, but from sincerely turning to divine guidance for help, protection, and direction. When you live in alignment with the Spirit, you are never led into situations where violence becomes necessary.
The universe is rooted in love and life, and the Holy Spirit—an expression of that love—will never guide you into circumstances that require you to take a life. Such acts are fundamentally opposed to the nature of the universe, which seeks to preserve and uplift life, not destroy it. War, violence, and fear are creations of the ego, not of the Spirit. By surrendering to divine guidance instead of egoic control, you free yourself from the need for violent defense and find peace in the safety of love.
One of Jesus’ most powerful teachings is to let go of all fear. While this may be easier said than done, it is a vital step on the path to spiritual awakening and enlightenment. Each day, make it a practice to invoke the Holy Spirit and welcome God’s love to replace any fear lingering in your heart. When you place your trust fully in our Father and the Holy Spirit for protection and guidance, there is no need to live in fear—they are the greatest security you will ever know.
I’ve personally faced multiple life-threatening situations—unexpected seizures that caused dangerous falls, car crashes, repeated health crises, and even a suicide attempt brought on by the overwhelming weight of my condition. Yet, through it all, my life was preserved. I attribute that not to luck or coincidence, but to the deep trust and unwavering faith I placed in the Holy Spirit for the security of my life. That faith carried me through, time and again.
It’s one thing to call a single brush with death a coincidence—but after surviving multiple close calls, it became impossible for me to dismiss it as mere chance. Even my own family would joke that I must have nine lives. But I’ve come to understand that what sustained me wasn’t luck—it was grace. The foundation of all life, our true Source, is both life and love. When we rely on our egos instead of the Holy Spirit, we make ourselves vulnerable—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Since surrendering that fear and placing my trust entirely in the Holy Spirit, I no longer carry worry or concern for my life or health. That peace has become my new reality, and the results of that faith continue to reveal themselves in my life.
6. Strangers In Your Land / Immigrants & Asylum Seekers
One of the most vital and revealing tests of whether Christians are truly committed to the teachings of Jesus is this: will you care for the stranger in your land—those who suffer, seek safety, and are in desperate need of food, shelter, and compassion? Jesus gave unambiguous and direct instructions on how we are to treat the vulnerable and the displaced. Yet, when these teachings are brought up in conversations with Christians who oppose asylum seekers, the response is often deflection, denial, or a web of mental gymnastics aimed at avoiding accountability.
This avoidance is not accidental; it is a deliberate effort to sidestep the discomfort of confronting a contradiction between professed beliefs and actual behavior. It exposes a painful truth: that many who claim to follow Jesus are, in practice, only offering lip service to his message. You cannot genuinely claim to walk in the footsteps of Christ while simultaneously turning away those in need. To reject the stranger is to reject the heart of Jesus’ teachings. In the gospels Jesus makes it very clear:
“I was a stranger, and you welcomed me” comes from Matthew 25:35. It’s part of Jesus’s teaching on the Last Judgment, where he explains that serving others, especially those in need, is the same as serving him. Welcoming strangers is specifically mentioned as a way to show compassion and care.
Across all these issues—sexuality, public health, reproductive ethics, healthcare, and gun reform—the through-line is unmistakable: empathy. These are not just political or cultural debates. They are spiritual assessments. Every time we choose comfort, pride, or possessions over compassion, we reveal how far we still are from the heart of divine love.
To be human is to be capable of great empathy. But to be truly humane is to let that empathy guide our decisions—especially when it’s hard. Whenever we choose judgment over understanding, wealth over wellness, or personal freedom over collective safety, we stray from the sacred path of love.Let that be our moral compass: To love your neighbor not just in words, but in action—even when it costs you something.
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