Justice and Mercy

Great ideas……great goals.

But, the simple truth is this:

Justice and mercy are often in conflict. Often……if not usually……..justice and mercy are polar opposites.

And yet…….both justice and mercy are clearly important in the Bible……..both must be important……to God.

Justice: the guy who hurt me……or my family……or my friend……..gets the punishment that he deserves.

Mercy: when I mess up…….God forgives me.

Justice is driven by the unbiased application of the rules.

Mercy is driven by the undiluted application of love.

Justice is the central theme in the old testament.

Mercy is the central theme of the new testament.

Justice, in the old testament, is often achieved by the death of the wrongdoer.

Mercy, in the new testament, is achieved by the death…………..and resurrection………..of God himself.

From God’s perspective, old testament justice was pretty cheap. One lightning bolt…….a dash of fire and brimstone………..a quick stoning……and done. New Testament mercy, however, is an entirely different kettle of fish. The price of God’s mercy was…….is……..unimaginable. God watched his only son……..a son whom he loved……..die a death that redefines gruesome.

I have to believe……..based its cost to God…….that mercy is more important to God than justice. At least I hope so. Because……..I am in no position to face God’s justice………and neither are you.

When I think of mercy, I am usually focused on me and God’s love for me. When I think of justice, I am usually focused on the other guy………and the rules.

I don’t have a clue how God balances these two ideals in eternity……and, fortunately, that is not something that I have to sort out.

So…..instead…….my thought for today is:

“How do I……..how do we……balance justice and mercy…….in this broken world?”

Clearly, there are people in this world who are so evil that they must be kept in cages to protect the rest of us…….justice.

But, the vast majority of the time, I believe that mercy is a better problem solving tool.

I have decided to leave justice, in this world, to a deeply flawed criminal justice system as it struggles to sort and punish evil. In eternity, I will leave justice to God.

In a word……..justice is not my business……..justice is above my pay grade.

In my life……..I will focus on mercy. I will hope for and trust in God’s mercy in his dealings with me. And, I will apply mercy in my dealings with my neighbors……….as much as is possible.

I think that a good first step……..is to pray for the politicians whom I disagree with. Maybe after that I can find the strength…….and mercy……to pray for the truly evil people on this planet.

This will not be easy……….but I doubt that it was easy for God to watch Jesus on the cross…….the cross…….where justice and mercy meet.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Jesus, ESV

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Paul, ESV

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James, ESV

what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah, ESV

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata