MERCY-HOW-FUL?
by Richard Burkard
As of a few years ago, more than 300,000 charitable organizations were registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. They promote everything from medical research to animal protection to religious denominations. People who tried to be evenhanded and gave one dollar to each of them soon would go bankrupt - and need charitable assistance themselves!
Which groups should receive your support? Which groups, if any, should not? The issue was forced before me in the wake of the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami in south Asia, which claimed (as of this writing) more than 150,000 lives. For three consecutive weekends I heard a Church of God Pastor talk about the disaster - but in terms people in my workplace (including some conservative Republicans) called "inappropriate."
WEEK 1: The Pastor announced the denomination had given a donation (amount not named) to the American Red Cross. Yet he warned about possible scams - suggesting people appealing for help be told: "You've already made a donation." We did it through the church, and through tax dollars in government aid to the disaster area.
WEEK 2: The Pastor offered what he admitted was a personal opinion: "I thought charity begins at home." He suggested some people were trying to be "more godly than God" by helping the tsunami survivors. (Yet many Churches of God have an old saying on offering collection days that "you can't out-give God.")
WEEK 3: The Pastor repeated his "charity begins at home" line - one I later found had support from some congregation members, who know of starving older people on fixed incomes in the U.S. The minister went on to say in biblically prophetic language, "we're trying to buy lovers" (Jer. 3:1 and other verses) with charitable aid. Yet he also admitted Christian relief workers in the disaster area are NOT trying to proselytize or convert people.
Does this sort of talk sound strange from a minister you would think has the "love of God" in him? It did to me. And it soon became apparent a key Biblical word was missing from everything he said. That word is mercy - a word which doesn't seem to come up much in the Churches of God, compared with other religious groups. Perhaps it's considered a weak or namby-pamby trait. An old Bible Hymnal song was titled, "I'll Sing of Mercy and of Justice" - yet it seemed large numbers of members were only in a mood for the latter.
As I pondered how mercy figured into the question of providing assistance, I came across notes I took years ago from a personal Bible study of that word. I went through both testaments in detail with a concordance, trying to determine if and when mercy should be applied. Since God's Word is timeless, what I learned then could be helpful for you now - and perhaps a bit surprising.
Defining the term
Is there a Bible verse which specifically says, "mercy is...."? Well, sort of. Several Psalms have the phrase, but they speak more to the size of God's mercy than a particular method He uses. It's "in the heavens," David writes twice (Psm. 36:5, 57:10; all verses KJV unless noted). That is to say: it's great (86:13, 103:11, 108:4), it's plenteous (103:8) -- and it lasts forever (100:5, 103:17).
Based on other verses, let's give this definition a try: mercy is an undeserved gift of God, marked by giving to others. Jacob realized long ago: "I am not worthy of all the mercies.... which you have shown to your servant." (Gen. 32:10) Yet God gives it - and "the righteous show mercy, and give" as well (Psm. 37:21). In fact, Paul declares the quality of mercy a spiritual gift in itself (Rom. 12:6-8)
Related to this, Jesus's life reveals mercy is shown by compassion for others. It was made clear in the parable of the "good Samaritan" (Lk. 10:33-37), and in His healing of two blind men who made an appeal for mercy (Mt. 20:30-34).
Give and Take
Can anyone dare say he's an exception to the "mercy rule?" The Bible answers no, at least when it comes to giving it. "Shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother...." God says through an Old Testament prophet (Zech. 7:9). (And exactly who is a brother? We have an article on that.) Paul emphasizes in the New Testament that believers should be "vessels of mercy," prepared by God for His glory (Rom. 9:23; see also Col. 3:12).
But the issue for the Pastor I mentioned above seems to center more on who should receive mercy. Embedded in the Ten Commandments is a statement that God "shows mercy unto thousands... that love me, and keep my commandments." (Ex. 20:6; Deut. 5:10) While showing mercy is not commanded specifically here, Jesus said the merciful "shall obtain mercy" (Mt. 5:7) - implying those who give it should receive it, and vice versa.
The Bible goes on to name specific groups of people whom God expects to receive mercy. "He that honors him (his Maker, as in God) has mercy on the poor," Solomon writes in Proverbs 14:31. Daniel agrees, saying mercy on poor people allows you to break iniquities (Dan. 4:27). God shows mercy on people going through trials, such as Joseph faced in prison (Gen. 39:21-22; see also II Sam. 15:19-20).
Is this mercy a national thing? II Samuel 22:51 does show the Lord "shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed forevermore." Psalm 136:11 clarifies that "seed" is the people of Israel. But hold on - Paul describes other people who have "obtained mercy through their unbelief.... that he might have mercy upon all." (Rom. 11:30-32) It even apparently can be on rulers of any nation which trusts God (Psm. 21:7; Prv. 20:28).
Mercy with a Why
You may have been in situations where people showed mercy that you didn't expect to show it. It may have been a selfish ploy on their part, seeking to gain an advantage of some sort over others. And it's tempting to use a "beatitude" of Jesus that way: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." (Mt. 5:7) If I do it, God has to do it for me - because He promised.
But that approach reflects mercy based on getting and not giving. A better reason is to show a godly lesson to others, and be an example of God Himself. "I obtained mercy," Paul explained, "that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." (I Tim. 1:16)
Admittedly, though, the Bible promises a payback to those who show mercy. "I have never seen the righteous forsaken... They are always generous (KJV "merciful") and lend freely; their children will be blessed." (Psm. 37:25-26, NIV) So the blessings can be physical -- as well as in spiritual items such as "righteousness and honor" (Prv. 21:21) along with joy and happiness (Psm. 90:14; Prv. 14:21). The end result can be a merciful reputation, among both friends and foes (I Kng. 20:31).
Deep Conditioning
Yet some Church of God ministers over the years have warned members not to be "doormats" around other people - which leads to perhaps the most provocative question of all. Is mercy "unconditional," the way we understand God's love to be?
Our Bible shows a potentially shocking answer - NO. "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy," God told Moses in Exodus 33:19, a statement so vital that Paul repeats it in Romans 9:5. If you have any doubts about this, recall what God said through the prophet Nathan to King David about his successor named Solomon: "....my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul...." (II Sam. 7:15/I Chr. 17:13) God gives it - but yes, He can also take it away.
This sparks the obvious question of when God shows mercy, and what factors are involved. The decision is based on several conditions:
* Repentance.-- or as David put it in a famous plea for mercy: "blot out my transgressions.... cleanse me from my sin.... blot out all my iniquities." (Psm. 51:1-9) Solomon wrote not only confession is required, but the forsaking of sin (Prv. 28:13; Isa. 55:7).
* Faith in God and Jesus Christ. It worked for two formerly-blind men (Mt. 9:27-30; see also Psm. 32:10).
* Godly fear: "....great is his mercy toward them that fear him." (Psm. 103:11; see also Lk. 1:50)
* A display of righteous fruit - which one prophet suggests is as simple as farming: "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy...." (Hos. 10:12)
I don't know where the person "Willy-Nilly" came from -- you know, the one whose name is mentioned every now and then concerning the things people do. But the Bible makes clear Willy should NOT be your guide to showing mercy. "The Lord God, merciful and gracious.... keeping mercy for thousands...." also warns He "will by no means clear the guilty...." (Ex. 34:6-7)
If the guilty appeal to a government authority, even on a human level, mercy can be shown (Jer. 42:11-12) - but whether you show it or not is a "judgment call." If a wrong act is done "ignorantly in unbelief," as Paul did when he persecuted believers, mercy can be obtained (I Tim. 1:13). But this could be understood as a "godly policy change" from the Old Testament, when a people lacking understanding was denied mercy entirely (Isa. 27:11).
How to display mercy
The voice of the "Sacred Name" broadcast by the Sabbath-keeping Assemblies of Yahweh traditionally signs off by saying, "May Yahweh bless you abundantly!" While I disagree with some of his teaching, abundance is a good word to describe how mercy should come from us as well as God.
"God.... is rich in mercy," Ephesians 2:4 declares -- and the Lord's "mercy endures forever." (I Chr. 16:34) In response to His mercy toward us, we should "be glad and rejoice," (Psm. 31:7) then show others mercy and compassion with cheerfulness (Rom. 12:8).
Yet our God also "keeps covenant and mercy" (Neh. 9:32) -- keeps meaning in Hebrew He guards or protects it. To recall our last main point, God doesn't always display mercy with reckless abandon. He's looking for "servants that walk before you (God) with all their heart." (I Kng. 8:23) King David was told God's mercy toward Solomon would be combined with the chastening of correction where need be (II Sam. 7:14-15).
You Just Don't Get It
The Bible assures us God is a God of love (I Jhn. 4:8, 16) - yet to borrow from a James Dobson book title, "Love Must Be Tough." And so God sometimes says NO to showing mercy.
"This evil people, which refuses to hear my words, which.... walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them.... I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them." This is what the Lord said through the prophet Jeremiah - not about a pagan people, but about Judah. (Jer. 13:9-10, 14) God earlier instructed a unified Israel not to show mercy with nations it would conquer in the promised land (Deut. 7:2) - nations we might consider Israel's enemies (see also Psm. 143:12.).
Who else is disqualified? "They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy," Jonah declares from inside a great fish (Jnh. 2:8). And the New Testament apostle James writes, "he (apparently God) shall have judgment without mercy, that have shown no mercy..." (Jms. 2:13) In these cases, mercy is withheld to show lessons to the parties involved (e.g., Hos. 2:4-5)
Mercy Unlimited
Perhaps in one way, the Pastor I heard had a point about people trying to be "more godly then God." In some areas, it simply isn't possible. Consider some of the ways in which God and ONLY God can grant mercy:
* Calling us to salvation. (I Pet. 1:3)
* Physical healing - like with Paul's brother in faith Epaphroditus, ho "as sick nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him...." (Phil. 2:27; see also Psm. 6:2)
* Intervention with the weather, such as "his bright cloud.... He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy." (Job 37:11, 13)
* Aid in times of trial - as Joseph received while in prison (Gen. 39:21-22; see also Psm. 86:13).
* Keeping some rulers in power (Psm.21:7, Prv. 20:28).
* Answers to desperate prayers of need, as Daniel received when he need a dream interpreted (Dan. 2:18-19).
Millennial Mercy
Yet not every prayer to God for mercy will bring a "yes" response. Even the most merciful people eventually will die. After all, Jesus Christ, a "merciful and faithful high priest," did (Heb. 2:16)> But the good news is that God's mercy does not end at the grave.
Recall a song of King David we quoted earlier. He said of God: "He.... shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed forevermore." (II Sam. 22:51) Whether he realized it or not at the time, this can refer to a coming resurrection of David and God's seed. As Jesus was resurrected, so we will be. "With the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption." (Psm. 130:7)
Jude encourages believers to keep "looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (Jude 21) You can look for it in prayer (e.g., Psm. 85:7, 119:41). Then have faith that God will deliver it for you, as David expressed in a famous Psalm: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me al the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psm. 23:6)
Conclusion
"I will have mercy, and not sacrifice," Jesus clearly says in Matthew 9:13. He said this to His disciples, who wondered why He'd eat with "publicans and sinners." (v. 11) If Jesus can show mercy by eating with such people, why should Churches of God consider it wrong to assist them in a time of crisis?
Jesus went on to call mercy one of the "weightier matters of the law" which Christians ought to do (Mt. 23:23) - or have some of them focused on details of tithing so much, as mentioned in the first part of this verse, that the mercy section is overlooked? Yes, "justice" is one of the weightier matters as well (note NIV and NASB translations) - but James assures us, "mercy triumphs over judgment." (Jms. 2:13, NASB)
Don't be afraid to do with Israel did long ago, and sing in "praising and giving thanks to the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endures forever...." (Ezra. 3:11) Then go the next step and SHOW that mercy to others, based on the guidelines God gives in His word -- to truly make Him, as Psalm 59:17 calls Him, "the God of MY mercy."
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© 2005 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved