Lack
of Mercy Invites Judgment
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.
James 2:13
This
verse offerings a frightening message to anyone who feels that
people should always "get what they deserve". We can
fall into the trap of thinking that the sins of others are always
worse than our own.
In the previous
article, I explored how unforgiveness will cause God to withhold
His own forgiveness and mercy. Now let's look at what having a
lack of mercy does. On the surface, being unmerciful may seem
like being unforgiving. The two attitudes do have much in common.
But, from the perspective I am going to take, unforgiveness deals
with specific response to offenses (whether real or imagined)
while lack of mercy is more of an overall attitude toward life
and people in general. Unforgiveness is a reflection of an unmerciful
attitude, but some people who would otherwise be very merciful
toward others may find themselves being unforgiving in certain
situations. On the other hand, an unmerciful person not only lacks
the capacity to forgive, but tends to consider others to be the
source of his own problems, and so views people with mistrust,
suspicion and disdain..
Jesus said
that if we look upon another lustfully, it is the same as committing
adultery (Mt. 5:28). This points to the truth that it is the attitude
of our hearts, rather than simply what we do, that matters to
God. Many people do righteous things, but their hearts are not
right with God (Mt. 7:22-23). Lack of mercy is as much an attitude
as anything you do or don't do. In fact, I will say it is a state
of mind, a way of life, just as being merciful is a way of living
as Christ lived.
How is this
manifested? It shows up in such everyday situations as complaining
about a decision your boss makes, or getting upset with other
drivers on the way to work. It manifests in reading about someone
committing a crime and thinking how that person deserves some
particularly harsh punishment, with no allowance for mitigating
circumstances or even a plea for leniency. It rears it's ugly
head in the attitude that the prostitutes you see downtown are
somehow beneath you, or that the city should allow that new homeless
shelter to be built anywhere but in your neighborhood. In short,
probably every person on earth, no matter how much he or she may
love the Lord, is guilty of being unmerciful at one time or another.
Because how you think ultimately influences how you act, you will
invariably demonstrate a lack of mercy towards others, whether
you intend to or not.
The circumstances
of the attacks on Sept. 11 have amplified this point. Shortly
afterwards, there were assaults made on a number of people, simply
because they looked "Middle Eastern". This included
the murder of a Sikh, a religious/ethnic group from India who
have no relationship to Islamic terrorists other than the fact
that Sikhs wear a particular turban as a sign of their faith.
But, people can often assume that anyone in a turban is a Muslim.
I myself have heard professing Christians express the opinion
that we should simply "bomb them back to the Stone Age"
in regards to Afghanistan.
I for one
cannot imagine Jesus standing before a crowd at the Temple and
preaching that all of Rome should be annihilated because of how
some Romans treated the Jews.
"So,
what's the big deal?", you might be thinking, "I'm entitled
to my opinion. Besides, a lot of people don't deserve a break-they
are terrible people (in my opinion) and should be punished."
That may be true, but it's up to either the court of law, or someone
in proper authority, or God to decide the worthiness of someone
for punishment. How often do we see a child screaming and throwing
a fit in the grocery store? We often shake our heads and wonder
why the parent doesn't discipline the child better (like WE think
we would do). Perhaps the child suffers from Attention Deficit
Disorder, or some other illness that causes him to have trouble
behaving in an acceptable fashion. In this case, it may be something
of a victory for the mother to simply have been able to take the
child along to the store. Should she make him wear a sign that
says "I have ADD, so I'm behaving as best I can?" Instead
of a tsk tsk and head shake about how poor a parent the mother
is, say a prayer that whatever the situation is, God knows, and
can minister to it.
There
but by the Grace of God go I.
We often fail
to realize how much mercy God is showing in our own lives. It
is very easy to forget where we have come from, what we were,
as we grow in the Lord. It's human nature for us to focus on the
good about ourselves and dismiss the bad as "just the way
I am" or "I can't help myself". An associate of
D.L. Moody once had his salvation questioned by a woman who felt
his behavior was inappropriate for a "proper Christian".
His response was to say "Madam, if not for Jesus Christ,
I'd be scarcely human." Don't forget that some people are
coming from a much deeper pit than Jesus rescued you from. Some
may still be in that pit. Having been rescued by God from your
own quagmire of sin is no justification for the pride of unmercifulness.
Indeed, it is reason to be humble before God and man whenever
you see another do something that you know is wrong-you are not
as far from doing the same thing as you might think.
Brethren,
if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore
such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest
you also be tempted. Gal.6:1
The truth
of this verse is that we often look at the behavior of another
and think we are guiltless of that ourselves. Yet, it can turn
out that those who are most merciless and vocal in their accusation
of others are hiding the same sin themselves. Or, in the very
least, being unmerciful leaves you open to the enemy to come in
and tempt you with the very thing you denounce others for doing.
I truly believe that Satan looks upon this as an opportunity not
just to get you to sin, but to undermine your witness for Jesus:
you commit the very sin you decry, and therefore are judged a
hypocrite by others. Try preaching the Gospel effectively to those
who hold such an opinion of you. It's nearly impossible, because
no one likes the "do as I say, not as I do" attitude
that is indicative of someone who lacks mercy. But, even beyond
these situations there is a very frightful reason for making sure
you live a lifestyle of mercy.
Therefore
the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle
accounts with his servants. "And when he had begun to settle
accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
"But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that
he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and
that payment be made. "The servant therefore fell down before
him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you
all.' "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion,
released him, and forgave him the debt. "But that servant
went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred
denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat,
saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' "So his fellow servant fell
down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me,
and I will pay you all.' "And he would not, but went and
threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. "So when
his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved,
and came and told their master all that had been done. "Then
his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked
servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 'Should
you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just
as I had pity on you?' "And his master was angry, and delivered
him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
"So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you,
from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
Mt. 18:23-35
Notice how
Jesus starts this parable by saying that it is how the kingdom
of Heaven is? He reiterates the point with the last verse, assuring
us that if we fail to show mercy to others, after we have been
shown so much mercy by God, then the Father will have the same
heart toward us that we have towards others. I, for one, would
never want to find myself in the position of owing God a debt
that He is unwilling to forgive. Yet, that is what countless Christians
do every day. They walk through life constantly judging others,
hardening their hearts toward people, feeling as though they are
the offended party, so everyone else must come to them and repent.
Or, they are simply lukewarm in their attitude towards the suffering
of those around them. At the worst, they feel that they are more
righteous and therefore entitled to heap judgment and condemnation
on those they deem unrighteous, or even merely "less"
righteous. These types justify their judgments with declarations
of opposing sin and unrighteousness, or defending the Truth (though
it is the living Truth-Jesus Christ the Lord-which defends us,
not the other way around). On occasion, these people might be
right. They may truly be standing firm in opposition to unrighteousness.
But, that is the exception far more than the rule. Such trappings
of righteousness are no more than a delusion shared with the hypocritical
Pharisees of old. The assumption that God's hand in your own life
entitles you to somehow decide whether He is truly at work in
another person's life is as much a sin as any act you can think
of.
Here is all
of James 2:13, given as both a reminder of the danger of an unmerciful
attitude, but also as a promise to those who seek mercy in the
face of judgment.
For judgment
is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs
over judgment.
Next: The Fruits of Repentance
