Empathy for the Wicked - Cain

Empathy for the Wicked - Cain

This Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, led by Matthew Vander Els, delves into the concept of having empathy for even the most notorious figures in the Bible, starting with Cain. The series, titled "Empathy for the Wicked," aims to provide a deeper understanding of these biblical villains by exploring their motivations and the circumstances that led them to their actions. The goal is not to excuse their wickedness but to learn from their lives and apply those lessons to our own.

The Bible as a Unified Story

Vander Els emphasizes that the Bible should be read as one grand, interconnected narrative, where each book and story contributes to a larger understanding of God's character, love, grace, mercy, and justice. Isolating passages or books without considering their place in the overarching story can lead to misinterpretations. For example, the book of Judges can be unsettling if read out of context, but within the broader narrative, it illustrates the consequences of a society without a central godly authority, where everyone acts according to their own understanding. Understanding the Bible as a cohesive story equips believers to live out God's kingdom and reflect His image in the world.

Understanding Empathy

The teaching distinguishes between empathy and sympathy. Sympathy involves feeling pity or sorrow for someone's misfortune, often carrying a negative connotation of shame. Empathy, however, is the ability to share in and understand another person's emotions, feelings, and motivations, regardless of whether their actions are commendable. Every individual possesses the capacity for empathy, as it is fundamental to human communication. By choosing not to empathize with even the wicked, we lose the opportunity to identify the warning signs they missed and understand the path that led them to evil. The intention behind the biblical narratives, even those featuring villains, is to encourage us to empathize with these characters to gain wisdom.

The Story of Cain: A New Perspective

The teaching then focuses on the story of Cain in Genesis chapter 4, presenting a nuanced perspective on the Bible's first villain. Cain was the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, a fact that held significant cultural importance in biblical times. Firstborn sons were often responsible for carrying on family traditions, blessings, heritage, and were seen as priests and caretakers. Cain's birth was even marked by Eve's exclamation, "With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man," highlighting his significance. Abel, his brother, was born later, and his name is said to mean "vapor" or "mist," suggesting a lesser initial prominence in the narrative.

The familiar story recounts how both brothers brought offerings to the Lord: Abel offering the best portions of his flock, and Cain offering some of the fruits of the soil. God looked with favor on Abel's offering but not on Cain's, leading to Cain's intense anger and downcast countenance. Vander Els encourages the audience to use their imagination to consider the cultural context and potential emotional weight of this event for Cain. Cain, as the firstborn, might have been raised with the expectation of a unique spiritual role within the family, perhaps even leading the sacrifices. The rejection of his offering, especially in contrast to the acceptance of his younger brother's, could have been a profound blow to his sense of identity and perceived standing before God and his family.

Identity and Anger

The teaching proposes that Cain's underlying sin, which manifested as murder, was rooted in a misplaced identity. Cain may have grounded his sense of self in his status as the firstborn, the one responsible for the family's spiritual connection with God. When his offering was rejected, it wasn't just the offering but a part of his identity that felt rejected. This highlights a common human tendency to anchor our identities in various roles and labels, such as being a good spouse, parent, or employee. While these roles can be positive, basing our ultimate identity on them is a weak foundation and can lead to feelings of insecurity and anger when those roles are challenged. Andy Crouch, in his book "Playing God," defines idolatry as anything that makes a false claim about ultimate reality, thus challenging the true identity of God. By placing his identity in his role rather than in God, Cain may have inadvertently created an idol.

Vander Els suggests that God's response to Cain's anger – "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?" – was not necessarily a condemnation but an invitation. It could have been an opportunity for Cain to examine the foundations of his identity and to find acceptance not in his role but in God himself. The warning that "sin is crouching at the door" and "it desires to have you, but you must rule over it" emphasizes Cain's agency and the potential for him to choose a different path.

The teaching also explores the nature of anger, explaining that it is often a secondary emotion, a warning sign indicating that something is challenging our identity, values, or sense of self. Forensic psychologist Dr. Steven Diamond is quoted as saying that anger is an assertion of an individual's most basic right to be an individual. While anger itself is not inherently sinful (as God also experiences anger), unchecked and misdirected anger can lead to destructive actions. Cain's anger, fueled by a perceived threat to his identity, ultimately led him to murder his brother Abel. In a tragic attempt to restore his sense of primacy, Cain eliminated his brother, hoping to become "number one" again by default.

Application for Everyday Life

• Examine the foundations of your identity: Reflect on what you base your sense of worth and value on. Are these foundations solid, rooted in God, or are they subject to change and challenge?
• Recognize anger as a warning sign: When you feel anger rising, don't just react. Instead, try to understand what might be threatened or challenged within you that is causing this emotion.
• Seek your ultimate acceptance in God: Understand that your value and worth are inherent as an image bearer of God and are not dependent on your roles, achievements, or the approval of others.
• Practice empathy, even for those you dislike: Try to understand the perspectives and potential underlying reasons for others' actions, even when those actions are negative. View everyone as an image bearer of God.
• Deal with anger constructively: Instead of letting anger bottle up or explode, use it as an opportunity for self-examination and seek healthy ways to address the underlying issues.
• Avoid making idols of roles and achievements: Be aware of the tendency to place your identity in things that can be taken away or challenged, and instead, find your security and meaning in your relationship with God.
• Learn from the mistakes of biblical villains: By empathizing with figures like Cain, we can identify the pitfalls they faced and take steps to avoid similar mistakes in our own lives.

Just as Yeshua showed empathy for the marginalized and those considered "wicked" in his time, believers are called to extend that same understanding to others. This doesn't mean condoning sin, but it does involve recognizing the shared humanity and potential underlying hurts or misguided identities that can contribute to negative behavior. By understanding the story of Cain through the lens of empathy, we can gain valuable insights into our own hearts and the importance of grounding our identity in God.

The speaker concludes by encouraging continued soul-searching and prayer for wisdom to understand the "warning lights" of anger in our lives and to cultivate empathy towards others.

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References

• Genesis 4
• 1 Samuel 20
• Jeremiah 31

Books and Resources Mentioned

• Playing God by Andy Crouch

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