I have heard from several people (usually women), even some of those who call themselves Christian, labeling themselves as an “empath.” According to the dictionary, an empath is “a person with the paranormal ability to apprehend the mental or emotional state of another individual.” Within the New Age movement, empaths are generally defined as extra-sensitive people who can experience the emotions of any person—or animal—standing nearby, regardless of context or knowledge. The claim that empaths can perceive the physical sensitivities and spiritual urges of others is a characteristic shared by many in the occult or New Age. At least in some cases, a person who has empath abilities could just be psychic abilities.
Empath is distinguished from having empathy, which is the ability to listen to, understand, and relate to the emotions of others. That is a precious gift, and it is biblical to carry others’ burdens, emotional or otherwise (Galatians 6:2). I have had experiences that are similar to what an empath may feel when the Holy Spirit moved in me to have compassion or empathy for people. But we ought to exercise discernment because the enemy likes to counterfeit many things of God.
However, claiming the powers of an empath goes beyond proper compassion and godly sensitivity and enters the realm of the psychic. If you have a history of involvement with the occult or the New Age (or had ancestors involved in it), and think you have “empath abilities,” then I would question if there was something demonic going on and perhaps seek prayer for deliverance. If you didn’t know, getting involved in such practices can open the doors wide open for demonization, and psychic abilities can be attributed to demons (read Acts 16:16-18).
One ex-New Ager who turned Christian, Marcia Montenegro, gives her insight:
An “empath” has nothing to do with the common meaning of empathy. The term “empath” is used in the New Age, usually in connection with New Age healing or counseling. An empath is really a psychic but may not like to use the word “psychic.” Sometimes they call themselves a “sensitive,” “medical sensitive,” “healing intuitive,” or just an “intuitive.” No matter the label, an empath is still a psychic. “Intuition” in the New Age is often equated with being psychic and may be used in place of “psychic.”
Furthermore, this is not about being sensitive to others’ feelings. It is about actually experiencing what they are feeling the way they are feeling it, whether physical or emotional. It is considered a psychic “power” or ability. I know it well from the New Age. There is no biblical basis for being an empath.
If you do a word search for “empath,” it will be found mostly on New Age or maybe some self-help sites. The context is most commonly New Age because that is where the word has been and is used.
Redefining the term to try to make it seem Christian is dishonest and misleading. I am weary of seen Christians adopt terms and beliefs from the New Age.
Please hear this: The New Age has nothing to offer in terms of spirituality or healing! It is awash in a worldview totally alien and hostile to Christ.
So if you use this term as a Christian term, I hope you reconsider.
Source
You may want to check out the post Do You Have Psychic Abilities?.
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can receive Him into your heart, and He can deliver you from darkness and sin and have your name written in His Book of Life.
If you are sincere, you can say this simple prayer to the Father (it doesn’t have to be word for word):
“God, I recognize that I have not lived my life for You up until now. I have been living for myself and that is wrong. Please forgive me of all of my sins, just as I forgive others. I need You in my life; I want You in my life. I acknowledge the completed work of Your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ in giving His life for me on the cross, I believe in my heart Jesus is Lord and was raised from the dead and I long to receive the forgiveness you have made freely available to me through this sacrifice. Come into my life now, Lord. Take up residence in my heart and be my king, my Lord, and my Savior. From this day forward, I will no longer be controlled by sin, or the desire to please myself, but I will follow You all the days of my life. Those days are in Your hands. I ask this in the Lord and GOD Jesus’ precious and holy name. Amen.”
Jesus Truth Deliverance 
False Christs and false Holy Ghosts pervert and imitate everything that is good and true. Definitions are being officially changed right and left now, in the (obvious) beginning of sorrows.
Sensing others’ needs and feeling their pain is not a New Age concept, but rather a characteristic of healers. Some nurses excel so greatly at caring for others, and are so easily burned out, because God has given them this gift- which is also a a burden to bear.
The name Jesus has also been adopted by the New Age movement, proclaiming their New Age Jesus. Yet I see the word Jesus on this page. Should that word also be abandoned?
The English language is wicked at best and is being used against us; we must be cautious when discussing terms and phraseology so as not to carelessly condemn the elect.
We must be very careful in these times, and moving forward, not to make assumptions and broad condemnations without all of the information.
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Respectfully….. your heart is in the right place here, which deserves applause! However, I must agree with the other commentator here. Proceed cautiously in condemning others without the full picture. As he (she?) mentioned, words are used against us and definitions are changed willy nilly.
As someone who feels the pain and suffering of others, including emotions, I thus identify as an empath. That is the extent of the true definition of being an empath. Of course, this has been perverted just like everything else good into something wicked.
You might want to prayerfully reconsider the sinner’s prayer and seek the scriptures diligently on this. This has become an empty Protestant ritual, used by the apostate to declare that they’re “saved.”
Repent, believe, be baptized.
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Are you a born again Christian?Where in the Bible does it say anything about an “Empath”? And why are you adopting terminology from the New Age movement?
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Hi J. Williams,
I agree with you. I’ve seen/met people who say they are an empath and even used to call myself one as well. A lot of those people are involved in the occult. I’m not. But I’m still coming to truths of the Bible. Your website has helped a lot to answer a lot of those so called “grey” areas. Thank you.
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God bless.
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If it is not of God, it is from somewhere else. Keep away!!! Follow Christ, not the dodgy wishy-washy and false ‘new age’!
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I agree with both you, Jamaal, and aforementioned individual. First, yes, definitions of words are changed willy nilly. However, there are so many paths that lead to destruction (Mt. 7:13). The empath spirit MAY BE demonic and not you, whatsoever. The thing is that there are so many deceivers and the devil, embodied evil in this world, has been around for millennia, mastering his art of deception over the course of thousands of years (Rev 12:9). I think the best thing to notice is to ask yourself a couple of questions: how do you feel on a daily basis? Are you noticing harmful attributes to your existence? Poverty? Mental illness? One deliverance ministry admitted that demons like to hide and some are deceived into believing they have been cast out, when they have not. No matter what a blessing something may seem to be the fruits of the spirit are joy, peace, etc (Gal 5:22) and a sober and sound mind (1 Pet 4:7).
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New age is counterfitting the truth.
But these passages came to my mind hence the similarities. It might be good when converting from an new age empath to the truth.
”It is about actually experiencing what they are feeling the way they are feeling it, whether physical or emotional. It is considered a psychic “power” or ability. I know it well from the New Age.
There is no biblical basis for being an empath.”
Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Corinthians 9:20
To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those
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Tbh, I am starting to see many, many similarities between training for witches /occultists/diviners and many deliverance ministries. Except in the deliverance ministries they deny any involvement with the occult, but many of them ARE in the occult but they will never admit it. I am starting to agree with my teacher C. Penczak that Christians are witches but only don’t know how to properly build and send “prayers”ie spells to produce wanted effects on the world. I have seen many, many charlatans in the deliverance ministry. This is the new deception. Like D above said “false Christs and false Holy Ghost imitate and pervert everything”. I think I have an idea of what’s going on. That demons orchestrated fake deliverance since many years ago because that’s just what demons do. Make us believe we have some sort of control but we don’t. They are laughing at us. I want to investigate tbh.
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I witness, this brother is a servant of the Most High. I also give witness, to TRUE ministers of reconciliation (and “the children’s bread”/deliverance) who ARE being used by God. So, when you make blanket statements regarding ministries (even though we know there are a lot of false A-Z) it’s a really a dangerous place to tread for any true believer. (read Matthew 12:37)
The fact that you’re seeking more truth is a good thing. But if you inadvertently distract from someone who is being used by God, it’s not so good.
My advice would be investigating the bible more as a first step; then you’ll realize who you’re truly up against and how good he is at using people without their awareness. Pray for the King of Glory (Jesus, aka: Y’shua Hamaschiach) and His dunamis Spirit, to lead you to all truth, to deliver you from any spirit of error or teachers who may have mislead you knowingly or unknowingly, and to lead you to fellowship and equipping (discipleship) with true men/women of God or believers. Ask Him to set a guard over the door of your mouth, and a watch over your lips.” like David did. (See Psalm 141:3) Read and understand Matthew 12:37, and ask the Holy Spirit to open up the Word to you and equip and quicken you. If you do this, everything will be fine. By the way, I’ve prayed the same way past and recent, over myself so I’m not judging your heart but giving advice based on being in some deep trenches in past years in the spiritual warfare. It is going to the next level, it’s time for all of us to be calibrated by the Spirit of Truth and God’s word. Blessings!
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I agree with you to pray for Father in Jesus’ name to lead us to all truth and to discern false teachers. I am commenting, in general. Jamaal has prayed with me and it seems to have helped.
I was not making blanket statements. 99% of so-called Christians are fake-a** Christians (word taken by Mark Passio). I highly suggest looking with discernment anyone in deliverance ministry. I just have to call a spade a spade, that many deliverance ministries look like ideas taken from New Agers from the 1970’s. Seriously, New Agers and Catholics have been doing this for centuries. I dislike the Pharisees I keep coming into contact with and others making God’s Church a business. Again, not isolating Jamaal, just commenting.
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Tbh practically EVERYTHING from current deliverance ministries has been ripped off of either Tyhson Benighan’s Deep Healing Protocol, new age healers or the Roman Catholic priest Chad Ripperger’s book Deliverance Prayers for the Laity. And/or go into African magic coming from Pentecostal movement and just “changed it a little bit”. Ie incubus/succubus is marine spirit. Africans new this from the beginning.
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Amen. Thank you so much for the truth.
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