In a thought-provoking debate between Allie Beth Stuckey and a group of progressive Christians, she spoke with a member of the LDS Church on what it means to show both love and truth the way that Christ did.
The LDS member, Jaden, argued for acceptance of someone’s sinful flaws as a means of empathy. However, Stuckey spoke the truth against this with grace.
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
“It’s not that I necessarily believe in choosing sympathy over empathy,” Stuckey said. “I believe in choosing love. And God gets to define love. 1 John 4:8, God is love. So, he gets to define it. He tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 what love is. He defines it for us. And one of the characteristics that we read in verse six is that love never rejoices in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. So, if I am to love the person who says, ‘I’m struggling with this identity crisis. I feel like I’m born in the wrong body.’ I don’t think it’s wrong for me to say, ‘Wow, I’ve never been there, but that must sound really distressing, but let me tell you about the God who loves you and did not make a mistake with your body.'”
Stuckey pointed out that love does not mean giving up what is true. “I’m not going to sacrifice truth for feelings.”
Jaden then threw in her understanding of gender and identity, believing that “gender is a characteristic male and female in heaven. As spirits, we have male and female. I believe that.”
Stuckey came back, asking where in Scripture this was to be found, which showcased the difference between Christian views and Mormonism.
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
For believers, the discussion points to something deeper: while empathy and compassion are vital, they must never replace truth. Feelings can shift with culture, but God’s Word stands firm. In a world where love is often redefined, Christians are called to lead others not to their own version of truth, but to the Truth—Jesus Christ Himself. It is only in Him that real love and real healing are found, and it’s that unchanging truth that must ultimately guide every conversation, every conviction and every act of compassion.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
