When Compassion Forgets Human Nature

Compassion enjoys an enviable reputation in modern public life. Virtually every political proposal arrives wrapped in its language, accompanied by stirring promises of justice, moving stories of hardship, and assurances that government action will finally repair every social wound that previous generations somehow ignored. The political class rarely argues over whether compassion matters because everyone claims it as a ubiquitous and necessary virtue. The real disagreement, unfortunately, concerns whether compassion alone provides enough wisdom to govern fallen human beings. Scripture, history, economics, and Christian theology offer a remarkably consistent answer: Sincere intentions accomplish little unless they reckon honestly with the reality of human nature.