Of Mercy and Judgment

July 18

Today’s Bible Reading:  Isaiah 32-35; James 2

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:

Topic: Mercy and Judgment

SCRIPTURE:  James 2:12-13

¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ¹³ because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!  (James 2:12-13 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

Previous to these verses James expounds about not showing favoritism to some people over others. To make such judgments or valuations of merit is to violate the scriptural law, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (James 12:8). The point is not that judgments are forbidden, rather that judgment without mercy is a violation of “the law that gives freedom”—the gospel of Christ who offers unmerited mercy and absolution of sin to any and all who will accept it and receive Him.    

APPLICATION:

This is what my attitude as a Christian is—to not judge others but to love and accept people; any and all people. This is what the attitude of most Christians I know is and always has been—to love and care for all people. However, this does not preclude me from having and expressing my opinions about what is right and wrong. In fact, in a loving society we have a responsibility to do so. There are certain behaviors that God calls sin. Sin separates you from God and He hates that. He loves you and wants close relationship with you.

It behooves us; as a human society that God loves so much that He became a human and died for us, and rose from death to bring victory for us; to promote standards of right living before Him. However, it is here where we humans often stumble into sin of another kind by behaving hatefully toward people because of the way they behave, to pass judgment without mercy. Then the human reaction is often to return hate for hate. Here is where the real human tragedy lies. All humans are sinners separated from God. Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean you never sin again, it means you have now entered into a personal relationship with God through Christ. Within that relationship you will find the help and empowerment to live a better, more fulfilling and purposeful life. But you are still human and will certainly stumble at times. When you do the Lord is right there, still loving you and helping you get back up.

There is a sinister spiritual reality present in our modern world; in the guise of enlightenment it denies the relevance of godly values given in the Bible. It disputes the validity of biblical precepts. It places the determination of moral behavior in the hands of general consensus while at the same time manipulating that consensus toward moral justification. It coerces society to conform to its moral determinations which seem to be ever devolving. It convinces individuals that behavior once thought sinful is actually righteous. It traps people into believing there is no need for repentance and forgiveness of sin. If I have no sin, I have no need for a Savior. If I become convinced that what God calls sin is really good and right and worthy to be emulated and celebrated, then I don’t need to feel guilty about it anymore and I certainly don’t need to repent of it. If the Bible says it is wrong, I reject God and His Word. If God’s book is just a compilation of old fashioned ideas, give it no credence. If we have progressed beyond the need for an antiquated God, do not foolishly believe in Him; and ridicule those mentally deficient people who still do. 

Such is the reality of increasing opposition to Christianity in our world today. It can certainly cause devoted followers of Christ to rise up in righteous indignation—to want to strike back! While we can certainly make judgments of what is right and wrong, we mustn't judge souls. That is expressly God's job not ours. Our challenge is to treat even the vilest of offenders with love and mercy before judgment; to trust in the promise that, "Mercy triumphs over judgment!"  

PRAYER:

God help us! We cannot handle the balance of mercy and judgment without You.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.  -AP