Responding redemptively to President Biden’s cancer

By Dr. Jim Denison - Posted at Denison Forum:

Published May 19, 2025

How to have compassion for those with whom we disagree

Former President Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis continues to generate headlines (for more, see my Daily Article on Sunday’s announcement). Political leaders from across the political spectrum have responded with words of affirmation and support; many have promised to pray for Mr. Biden and his family. We would expect such statements from public officials, especially with regard to one of their own.

However, it is also a fact that Mr. Biden, like all recent presidents, has been a polarizing figure in a very polarizing time. I won’t surprise you by stating that I disagree strongly with his positions on abortion, same-sex marriage, transgender surgeries, men in women’s sports, and a host of other cultural issues. I would guess that many of you agree with me in disagreeing with him.

Here’s a thought question: When you first heard the news, did you react in the same way as you would have if you supported Mr. Biden’s policies more fully? If Donald Trump, George W. Bush, or a governor or mayor with whom you agree had received this news, would you have felt about it as you did about Mr. Biden’s diagnosis?

The question goes much further than our relationship with political leaders. We all have people in our lives with whom we disagree, some on a deep and emotional level: family members, work colleagues, fellow students, neighbors—the list goes on.

If we have compassion only for hurting people we like, we won’t have compassion for many people. Yet our compassion for those with whom we disagree can be a powerful witness, one that shows the difference Jesus makes in a life and models his grace.

After all, the sinless Son of God disagreed with every human being, since every human being has sinned and fallen short of his glory (Romans 3:23). And yet he had such compassion for us that he died for us.

How can we extend such grace to those who need it most today?

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See also:

• Joe Biden diagnosed with “high grade” prostate cancer
• Joe Biden’s “irrefutable” cognitive decline shown in audio recordings