T
TemporaryCircumstances
Guest
Thank you all very much for your answers! They have helped very much!
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
R
RachelBibleStudent
Guest
this is not as easy a question as you might imagine...a lot of it has to do with the worldview of the person considering the case...
there are people who are simply much more perceptive and have a much higher interpersonal intelligence...this is nothing supernatural about it... a person like this can most certainly be a christian...and in fact they may be a blessing to the church...
on the other hand...if a person supernaturalizes this...as many new agers have done...and makes it to be a kind of 'psychic power'...either to elevate themselves as having supernatural powers...or setting it as a goal of supernatural power for them to strive for...then that is at odds with the biblical christian worldview...
there are people who are simply much more perceptive and have a much higher interpersonal intelligence...this is nothing supernatural about it... a person like this can most certainly be a christian...and in fact they may be a blessing to the church...
on the other hand...if a person supernaturalizes this...as many new agers have done...and makes it to be a kind of 'psychic power'...either to elevate themselves as having supernatural powers...or setting it as a goal of supernatural power for them to strive for...then that is at odds with the biblical christian worldview...
T
TemporaryCircumstances
Guest
Trouble with emotional projection and picking up on people is if they are aware of
it they can manipulate you.
A lot of what people call empathy is simple picking up of signals, and in the case of mental illness
projections on the most minor of inflections. I have to say most behaviour patterns of people
are fairly predictable, it is just we are not interested in picking up the queues.
I would focus your energies on seeing the good in people and encouraging them to follow that
which builds up.
T
TemporaryCircumstances
Guest
An Empath deals with psychic powers. Empathy is the ability to relate to another person's emotions. Even tho the words are incredibly similar, their meanings are not related.
Empath is a noun. Empathy is a verb.
Having empathy for someone does not make you an Empath. It means you are sensitive in discernment.
You won't find Empath in any Biblical list of gifts, fruit, or offices. Anything relating to psychic powers is forbidden by scripture.
Empathy however is what the Bible is all about, and what Jesus modeled. Being sensitive to other's emotions and situations are what the gifts, fruit, and offices are all about.
Katy, your gift for sensing and having empathy for another's emotions makes you a discerner, not an Empath.
Empath is a noun. Empathy is a verb.
Having empathy for someone does not make you an Empath. It means you are sensitive in discernment.
You won't find Empath in any Biblical list of gifts, fruit, or offices. Anything relating to psychic powers is forbidden by scripture.
Empathy however is what the Bible is all about, and what Jesus modeled. Being sensitive to other's emotions and situations are what the gifts, fruit, and offices are all about.
Katy, your gift for sensing and having empathy for another's emotions makes you a discerner, not an Empath.
as it is written:read: ( in KJVA BIBLE VERSION )
1 Timothy 4:10
1519PREP For 1063CONJ therefore 5124D-ASN we 2872V-PAI-1P both 2532CONJ labour 2872V-PAI-1P and 2532CONJ suffer reproach 3679V-PPI-1P , because 3754CONJ we trust 1679V-RAI-1P in 1909PREP the living 2198V-PAP-DSM God 2316N-DSM , who 3739R-NSM is 2076V-PXI-3S the Saviour 4990N-NSM of all 3956A-GPM men 444N-GPM , specially 3122ADV of those that believe 4103A-GPM .
11*These things 5023D-APN command 3853V-PAM-2S and 2532CONJ teach 1321V-PAM-2S .
*
*
*
. ...
1 Timothy 4:16
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
:ty:
godbless us all always
T
TemporaryCircumstances
Guest
:read: ( in KJVA BIBLE VERSION )
1 Timothy 4:10
1519PREP For 1063CONJ therefore 5124D-ASN we 2872V-PAI-1P both 2532CONJ labour 2872V-PAI-1P and 2532CONJ suffer reproach 3679V-PPI-1P , because 3754CONJ we trust 1679V-RAI-1P in 1909PREP the living 2198V-PAP-DSM God 2316N-DSM , who 3739R-NSM is 2076V-PXI-3S the Saviour 4990N-NSM of all 3956A-GPM men 444N-GPM , specially 3122ADV of those that believe 4103A-GPM .
11*These things 5023D-APN command 3853V-PAM-2S and 2532CONJ teach 1321V-PAM-2S .
*
*
*
. ...
1 Timothy 4:16
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
:ty:
godbless us all always
Thank you for your answer, and in it referring to scripture
S
SteelToedKodiak
Guest
Empaths have no default tie to the occult that I know of. Empaths must be especially careful of narcissistic people as they tend to vampire off one's energy. This is why an empath needs a lot of solitude when things get too much. It brings to mind how Jesus had to retreat into isolation at times, not to say He was an empath.
U
Ugly
Guest
Actually a glance through what falls under the definition of 'empath' is not just simply an empathetic person. Most references are spiritual in nature, typically surrounding a new age foundation. Things like paranormal, psychic, etc...
While there may be another, non-spiritual, meaning to the word, it seems that as of now the non-biblical spiritual term is the dominate definition. Therefore the comments of occult actually would be fitting in this thread.
T
TemporaryCircumstances
Guest
I don't know, but perhaps ask Deanna Troy. All I know is that Captain Picard didn't fly in the Star Ship Enterprise without Deanna, the psychologist/empath. As for her empathic mother (played by Roddenberry's wife) Picard would have been happy to never see her again.
That's pretty much my only association with Empaths - a science fiction TV show! But it wouldn't surprise me in the least to know that there are empaths in the New Age movement. That was another very wrong turn I took in life.
We should all be sensitive to one another. I was in church a few weeks ago, actually in my wheelchair, so I couldn't get up and follow a friend out of the sanctuary who was having a hard time. So I grabbed her and prayed for her in the service. I was very aware of what was going on and tried not to disturb people, but she needed that prayer, and it made a real difference in her week, and her holding onto God in the face of some life and death circumstances.
But, I am not an empath! Like someone said - just observing and being sensitive mannerisms and faces. That is discernment, a gift I do not have in abundance, but it is there when God has a job for me to do.
That's pretty much my only association with Empaths - a science fiction TV show! But it wouldn't surprise me in the least to know that there are empaths in the New Age movement. That was another very wrong turn I took in life.
We should all be sensitive to one another. I was in church a few weeks ago, actually in my wheelchair, so I couldn't get up and follow a friend out of the sanctuary who was having a hard time. So I grabbed her and prayed for her in the service. I was very aware of what was going on and tried not to disturb people, but she needed that prayer, and it made a real difference in her week, and her holding onto God in the face of some life and death circumstances.
But, I am not an empath! Like someone said - just observing and being sensitive mannerisms and faces. That is discernment, a gift I do not have in abundance, but it is there when God has a job for me to do.
T
TemporaryCircumstances
Guest
Thank you so much for your answer, and for reaching out to someone who needed a prayer!
T
TemporaryCircumstances
Guest
I guess my opinion is that is would really depend.
Mostly on the person. If someone uses it for a gift or a curse.
If someone let's it be chaotic or takes action to control it.
S
SteelToedKodiak
Guest
Kirk didn't need an empath, just sayin' Lol. I believe empaths may be developed by many things. The main criteria would seem to be an unstable environment in the younger years. Like a survival technique, it may be necessary to perform emotional recon before engaging a situation as a child it becomes perceived as necessary to navigate. In later years it developes into 2nd nature. If you find a good non-new age listing of the characteristics of empaths, it is quite startling especially if you are one....to recognize you're of that nature is a big relief.
U
Ugly
Guest
Google 'define empath' and see what comes up and then you'll see the answers.
For example, the definition that came up was this...
em·path
/ˈempaTH/
noun
noun: empath; plural noun: empaths
- (chiefly in science fiction) a person with the paranormal ability to apprehend the mental or emotional state of another individual.
And since nearly all references to the word were new age/spiritual in nature, it seems the post i put up, as well as what others have said, make this question moot since it is of an occult nature.
Or here's a quote from a web page titled 'Being Empathetic versus Being an Empth'.
Empath is another term for clairsentient. With that, we’re moving from the world of psychology to the world of spiritual healing.
Or how about this from another page: "
[h=1]What Is An Empath.- Definition[/h] I came across this definition in my psychic ability group in yahoo defining an empath, I copied to share hoping it helps others understand "What is an Empath?""
I could go on, but i think this paints a clear enough picture as to why figuring out all of these questions is moot when referencing occult teachings.
T
TemporaryCircumstances
Guest
J
jaybird88
Guest
this sounds like a big grey area.
sensitive to other people, animals and their feelings. not a big deal
sensitive to the spiritual world and channeling beings outside this world. probably not a good idea
Jesus and John the baptist both fasted in the desert. many of the early church fathers did this as well, they were known as desert fathers. they would go out in the wilderness, pray, fast and meditate to get a more deep spiritual experience. and they would stay out there for as long as it takes. few do it today as it takes a great deal of self sacrifice.
sensitive to other people, animals and their feelings. not a big deal
sensitive to the spiritual world and channeling beings outside this world. probably not a good idea
Jesus and John the baptist both fasted in the desert. many of the early church fathers did this as well, they were known as desert fathers. they would go out in the wilderness, pray, fast and meditate to get a more deep spiritual experience. and they would stay out there for as long as it takes. few do it today as it takes a great deal of self sacrifice.