The Collective Table is back! In this introduction episode, Jason & Jenell Coker are kicking off the Season 11 conversation in a way that couldn’t be more timely—or more provocative. In a moment when empathy itself seems to be “on trial,” they ask: Why is empathy worth defending?

From recent evangelical critiques like Allie Beth Stuckey’s Toxic Empathy to Albert Mohler’s claim that empathy “elevates feelings above God’s truth,” the hosts explore why some Christian leaders are suspicious of our shared human capacity to feel and understand one another. Together, Jason and Jenell unpack what empathy really is—both the emotional and cognitive dimensions—and why research shows it’s essential for mental health, civic life, and a just society.

Then, they take a theological turn: looking at Jesus’ tears in John 11, the God who weeps, and the incarnation as the ultimate act of divine empathy. Could it be that when we choose to empathize, we’re actually participating in the very nature of God—becoming more divine?

This episode sets the stage for an entire season of powerful storytelling. Over the next six episodes, you’ll hear real-life journeys of people in our own community who embody empathy in transformative ways—challenging us to listen deeply, believe others’ experiences, and discover empathy as a radical expression of Christian faith.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts—and join us as we make the case for empathy as the way of Christ.

PS: The Collective Table is a production of The Oceanside Sanctuary Church. Click here to learn more about us and our mission!