'Mercy, Mercy...'

up. Then it comes out with angry, demeaning language. I’m part of the larger problem, which seems to make things worse. Perhaps Hammurabi’s code - an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth - isn’t the best code to live by.

Jesus corrected that approach. “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5:34-35) Jesus taught his disciples that being his follower requires us being more merciful than anyone else. Jesus demands the impossible, which forces us to rely on the Holy Spirit. It is the only way things will get better.

Wheaton College had a forum on January 18th entitled 'Living Faithfully in the Public Square'. They had a Senator, a Governor, and others on the panel. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) said, “One of the reasons our politics are so weird is that, by far, the most overrepresented people are the loudest, angriest, loneliest, most online people who are least representative of regular people. A huge part of what’s wrong in our politics is performative grandstanding.” This problem is at all levels from personal relationships to federal politics. So, what was the forum’s answer to the problem, and how could that help us? 

First, they said we have to take responsibility for how we speak. Our words should honor the image of God in each person. Everyone has capacities and talents to bring order, goodness, and beauty into this world. We need to look for the creative goodness each person has to offer and work together in the common enterprise of restoring the world. Secondly, we need humility. We are made in the image of God which should raise our heads high. However, we are also sinful creatures who should be humble in our brokenness. We shouldn’t imagine or insist that we individually or as a particular group have all the answers. We need to recognize that even our best efforts are fraught with their own problems and unintended consequences. Humility moves us to learn from each other and come up with creative, healing, and restorative solutions.

How are you setting the tone of your relationships? Are you taking responsibility for your words? Are you humbly engaging others and looking for the good they offer? Do you increase or lower the temperature in the conversation. The world needs the mercy of Christians who love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.

Seeking to Serve,

Jonathan