The Church and the Crisis of Selective Empathy

I'm going to tell you a true-life story, one of many virtually identical stories I've heard these past few weeks. Be honest with yourself as you consider how you feel. Brian (not his real name) was a kind Christian man. He and his wife were always there to help a friend in need, and in the local business community, he was known for his relentlessly cheerful disposition. He was Republican -- like virtually everyone else in his church and community -- but he wasn't defined by his politics.