So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13

papers (blended) by Marta van Ecka and Lynne Anzek, elements, top papers by etDesigns

Please also see my related devotional from yesterday (June 5, 2019).

The above passage goes along with this one:

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” Luke 6:37-42 (The way that it continues is also important: Luke 6:43-49)

In God's sight, judgment goes along with mercy, which is defined as follows:

mer·cy \ ˈmər-sē \ noun: compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power; clemency; a disposition to be kind and forgiving

So being merciful is being compassionate, kind and forgiving. I think we all know that, but the question is what does it mean to be those things? Does it mean that if it makes someone uncomfortable to call their sin "sin," then we should refrain from doing so? No, it doesn't. We don't have to "pick" between truth and love (nor SHOULD we). (Rom. 1:18, Eph. 4:15-16 - also see Eph. 4:13-14 - we need knowledge to grow mature in Christ so that we're not tossed to and fro by doctrine craftily twisted by deceitful humans; also see Heb. 5:11-14.) We're not meant to criticize others to death and pretend that we ourselves are perfect. (Gal. 6:3-5, Rom. 12:3-9, Phil. 3:13-14, Heb. 10:24-27, 1Cor. 14:12, 26, Eph. 4:29-32, Jude 1:20-23, Rom. 14 - that discussion pertains to matters of freedom, not sin.) When speaking about sin, our motive is LOVE. (1Tim. 1:5, Eph. 4:15-25) We want people to repent and be restored to fellowship with the Body of Christ. (2Cor. 7:8-10, 1John 1:6-10) It's important not to be a "gong," but letting someone remain in a deceived state of believing that the behaviors they make a practice of are acceptable to God (or not "seen" by Him - but see Acts. 5:1-12, 1Cor. 11:29-32) is NOT merciful. It's actually the opposite. (2Tim. 2:19-23, 24-26, 2Pet. 2:18-22, 1Cor. 13:1-3, Jam. 5:19-20, Gal. 6:1, Jude 1:23)

Denying that sin is SIN is the kind of thing that someone who doesn't actually KNOW God or BELIEVE what He said about what IS sin and how His wrath is going to come on the earth because of people who refuse to turn from it (repent). (Rom. 2:5-11, Eph. 5:5-6, Col. 3:5-10, 1Thess. 4:3-8, 1John 1:6, 2:4-6, 3:6-10 - when John says in ONE letter THREE times that people who do not obey God are lying when they claim to know Him, we should take notice - remember, there is ONE God, NOT an Old Testament and New Testament God - Heb. 13:8, Mal. 3:6, 1Cor. 10:4, Isa. 44:8, Heb. 6:19-20, 7:3, Matt. 14:33 - and NOT a Son who is opposed to His Father - John 10:30, 8:29, Titus 1:16, 1John 3:12-13)

God's children have a higher standard of behavior because we are His children (NOT in order to become or work to remain His children), but remember, the firstborn receives the best blessing and inheritance, which can be reversed if that child "despises" their birthright - Gen. 25:29-34, 27:34, 38, John 1:12-13, 3:16-21, Jam. 1:18, Heb. 12:15-17, 22-24) We are to be separate from the world because we have been called out of it and our bodies are His temple. (2Cor. 6:14-7:1, John 15:19, 1Pet. 2:4-5, Eph. 2:21-22, 1John 2:15-17) His Spirit dwelling in us enables us to desire to know and to do His will instead of indulging our old sinful flesh. (Gal. 5:16, 24, Rom. 13:12-13, 14, 8:13-14, 1John 3:24, 4:13) If there is no evidence whatsoever of our being a "new creation," then we have good reason to wonder why not? (2Cor. 13:5, Rom. 6:4, 7:4-6, 8:9, Gal. 3:27, 6:15, 2Cor. 5:17, 2Pet. 1:9) There should progress toward Christ-likeness, showing that the Spirit is at work in us. (Rom. 12:2, Col. 3, 2Pet. 1:5-15, Eph. 4:17-32, 5:15-21, John 8:29, 15:8-10)

Does showing mercy mean that because we are all sinners, that NO ONE can expose ANY sins, EVER? No. The result of that would be a defiled Body of Christ. (Eph. 5:11-12, 1Cor. 4:21-5:13, 1Thess. 4:7, 1Pet. 1:16-17) We're not to be hypocritical by picking at the sins of others and yet continuing in our own. (Rom. 2:1-11, Matt. 7:3-5, 18:15-17) Being merciful also involves being impartial, but in our culture FAVOR is actually being shown to those who persist in certain sins. (1Tim. 5:20-21, Psa. 50:16-23) The "Golden Rule" is NOT "you look the other way when I sin and I'll do the same for you." (Matt. 7:12, Rom. 13:8-10, AND Rom. 13:11-14, 16:19, 6:15-23, 1Pet. 1:14-19) And why is it that many of the same people who shout the loudest for "mercy" and claim to be experts on what Jesus would have done often either accept "worship" (celebrity IDOLS, including some even in the church!) or they are among the adoring fans giving worship (adoration IS a form of worship) to their favorite, popular, rich celebrities, who are treated as if they can do no wrong (and even when caught in it, they are given a free pass by their "peeps")? (Jam. 2:5-7, 1Tim. 6:3-8, 9-11, 1John 4:5-6, Rom. 16:18, Rev. 2:20-23, Jude 1:4, 2Pet. 2:2-3)

Being loving and merciful doesn't mean affirming every behavior of a person, good or bad (or calling evil "good"). (Isa. 5:20-21, Luke 17:1-2, 3-4 - notice "rebuke" if your brother sins, and forgive him "IF he repents" - our brothers are the same as those of Jesus in Matt. 12:50 - the children of God - Heb. 2:11, 17, 3:1-15, Gal. 6:10, 4:31, 2Thess. 3:13-15, 1John 3:1.) Endorsing sin is NOT from the Bible (Rom. 1:32), but from our modern culture, which has been decaying for a LONG time now. If we saw that someone was doing something that will likely lead to their physical death, we would consider it loving to warn them, right? How much MORE so is that true, then, of behaviors that lead to spiritual, ETERNAL death? (Matt. 10:28, Rev. 21:7-8, 22:14-15, 1Cor. 6:9-20, Gal. 5:19-21) The fact is that if we stand for the truth (in LOVE), we will not be popular on this earth and will probably be persecuted--but it will be worth it to be able to hold our heads up, instead of hanging them down in shame, when we stand before Jesus as He judges our faithfulness to Him during this lifetime. (2Tim. 3:12-16, John 15:18-21, 1Cor. 3:12-18, Rom. 14:12, Rev. 11:18, 1Pet. 4:3-5, 1John 3:13)

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:10-16 (Also see Matt. 25:10-13, 25:26-30.)