Confronting the “Weakness” of God 

Empathy Under Attack 

Recently, I have been observing a peculiar thought process among some Christians, in media and among people I talk to, there is a new view that looks down on empathy.  

This troubling trend seems to equate empathy with weakness, suggesting that by expressing empathy, one somehow diminishes their strength or capability. However, empathy is a fundamental aspect of humanity, and its significance cannot be understated, especially in the context of Christian values. To dismiss empathy is to ignore one of the core tenets of compassion that Jesus himself exemplified throughout his life and teachings. Jesus’ empathy was not a sign of frailty, but a demonstration of profound strength and divine love that transcended societal norms and expectations. This notion of empathy being under attack contradicts the essence of what it means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. 

A few weeks ago, I addressed the notion that Jesus would not be accepted as man or a Christian leader in today’s society. “Masculinity is not toxic, the absence of it is. Weak men are abusive and spiteful. Strong men and protective and loving” unknown author. Empathy is not weakness, it is natural human emotion, often seen overwhelmingly in small children. I often tell people that small children are like puppies, all they want to do is please their masters/parents. Our turning to our small children and affirming their need to help and embracing their altruism has lifelong implications on their character.  

A King God Comes Riding in on a Donkey? 

I love movie call backs. Sometimes they are in your face, others like Jesus’ riding into town on a donkey somehow escaped me for 48 years. I have preached on procession story enough times to say I never saw this story the way I saw it this year.  

This  Sunday, we read the story of Jesus’ procession into Jerusalem, where he rode a donkey and was greeted by crowds waving palm branches and laying cloaks on the ground. This event marks the beginning of Holy Week and fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, symbolizing Jesus as the humble King of peace.  I have always enjoyed preaching on this text because of how the writers demonstrate how Jesus’ kingship stands in stark contrast to the grandeur and power of the Caesar. That Jesus incarnated humbly in a manger near beasts of burden and then arrives as a “king” on a beast of burden demonstrates to us that might and power can reside in humility and empathy. 

A friend recently posted a picture of a church sign that said that Jesus’ triumphal march was a protest statement. I think I was postmortem propaganda.  

The “Weakness” of God 

During my childhood, I first learned about Hercules. “Hercules is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is renowned for his strength and numerous far-reaching adventures. The Romans adapted the Greek hero’s iconography and myths for their literature and art under the name Hercules.” The Jewish people, Romans, and Greeks of the first century were likely familiar with Hercules and his exploits. While it is difficult to fully understand their perspective, one can speculate about the reactions of Greeks and Romans when early Christians introduced Jesus and described His divine attributes. It is plausible that they questioned these characteristics, given their own beliefs in powerful deities. 

Considering the philosopher and theologian Jack Caputo, Caputo argues that “God is not omnipotent, but “a weak force.” (Caputo also makes the claim that God does not exists, rather God “insists”) Weakness describes the lack of physical or metaphysical force that God is endowed with. Caputo’s primary thesis is that God is an indeterminate weak force that nevertheless still lays an unconditional claim on the lives of all humans. Caputo’s theology is a postmodern expansion of St. Paul’s proclamation of the “weakness of God” (1 Cor. 1:29) refracted through St. Derrida notion of the “weak force” of the unconditional that lacks sovereignty.”  

Considering Wesley’s thoughts, I think we get an eloquent challenge of Jesus’ “weakness”. Wesley positioned Jesus Christ firmly within the Godhead, affirming his full divinity as a fundamental component of Christian faith. Last night, I was inquired about my preference for Jesus over other spiritual beings that I study as a contemplative. Despite perceptions of Jesus’ “weakness,” I support Wesley’s view, and my own personal observations based on extensive Bible study and life experiences, which attest to Jesus’s role as the Son of God in creation and as the Redeemer of humanity. This underscores the belief in Jesus’s divine power and saving grace. Wesley’s theology demonstrates how Jesus Christ fits solidly within the Godhead, affirming his full divinity as an essential element of Christian faith. 

In Summary 

This notion of empathy, often perceived as weakness in contemporary discourse, juxtaposes the profound strength shown by Jesus in his life and teachings. This misconception overlooks the deep-rooted power and divine love embodied in compassionate acts. Reflecting on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a humble donkey, an image that starkly contrasts the grandeur expected of a king, we are reminded of the subversive power inherent in humility. This procession was not merely a protest but a profound statement of the kind of kindom Jesus was ushering in—one defined by love, service, and empathy. Engaging with philosophical perspectives, such as those of Jack Caputo who views God as a “weak force,” provides a modern expansion of the theological discourse initiated by St. Paul. This perspective challenges traditional notions of omnipotence and invites believers to reconsider the nature of divine strength. This reflection on divine weakness is not a diminution but a redefinition of strength through vulnerability and unconditional love. Such nuanced understandings lead us to Wesley’s eloquent challenge of Jesus’ perceived “weakness,” affirming his full divinity and the essential role of Jesus Christ within the Godhead.