A Great Word

As he anticipated the campaign against Poland in 1939, Adolph Hitler ranted, "Our enemies are little worms ... Close your hearts to pity! Act brutally ... The stronger man is right."¹ Hitler turned that bizarre attitude into a world conflagration that took more than 50,000,000 lives before it was over², and his own body lay the victim of suicide in a bunker in Berlin. "Close your hearts to pity," the words of a psychopath bent on destruction. Jesus took a different path to human relations. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" is what he said on the mountain to people ravaged by pain and prejudice. So we see the might of violent power on the one hand, the might of mercy on the other.

Historically nations have groomed their interests on back of war. Perhaps this is why Jesus is still a threat to nations, including ours. His way is a way of peace and mercy, of patience and second chances. According to Scripture He had His opportunities to garner a militia to fight the Romans, even to call angels to deliver Him from death, but He refused. It was not that He was uninterested in justice, in fact many of His teachings are aimed at justice needed and judgment for justice denied. He simply valued the word "mercy" more than brutality. Mercy is a great word.

I think more of mercy now that I am older then I did when I was younger. I do so because of the stark realization that if God looks at me in any other way I am done for. Mercy has always been an important word in my theological vocabulary but only lately has it had an emotional meaning for me. That is to say, I realize quite clearly those attitudes that foster judgmentalism and vindictiveness are foreign to the Christian disciple, yet I sometimes have them. We Christians do believe in judgment -- right judgment -- and for that reason should leave things to God. Sure there is the necessary judgment of the court on wrongdoing, but I cannot take delight in the sorrows of another person, even my enemy. I do not think God does. How much better if they had applied the principle of mercy to those they met instead of trying to manipulate and use them.

If I know my heart at all I can honestly say that I want to extend mercy to others. I realize that often people act out of very complicated inner turmoil and probably need therapy as much as, if not more than, harsh and costly judgment. For me to hear that God is a God of mercy is a wonderful thing. That means to me that God is doing everything short of forcing us to do right in order that we all may live fulfilled and neighborly lives. God is on the side of genuine mercy, and God is free to extend that mercy. A word of caution here: we cannot presume on God's mercy and expect to get away clean if we are judgmental and harsh.

Help me, O Lord my God;
save me for your mercy's sake.

Jerry Mercer