Justice and Mercy
I decided to flip through my literature anthology book for my English course, tonight, wanting to find something from one of the countless authors from all across American history to draw from and write about. There was a lot to read for the week, and I tried to remember some of it. As I was going back through, there is a written account of a sermon from a Puritan leader named John Winthrop.
He received permission to sail to the New World, desiring to help create a truly godly and Christian settlement, and this sermon was given as he and his group sailed to their new home. He uses many eloquent and fantastic words regarding Christ’s expectations of holiness, generosity, and kindness, and especially treating the rich and poor in the community at New England without bias. (Baym, Nina, et al. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. p. 90–102)
However, Winthrop builds his entire sermon, his hope that New England will become the ultimate expression of a Christian community, a shining example that could even guide the Church of England into change, on a simple idea:
“There are two rules whereby we are to walk one to another: justice and mercy.” (Baym, 92)
Winthrop’s vision for a truly Christian society is built upon justice and mercy; not just one or the other. I read that line a few times, and it got me thinking. So often, there are stories of criminals and broken, evil people facing justice for their crimes, and there is a sort of grim satisfaction. I’m not arguing that feeling is wholly wrong — it is always good when evil men who have hidden their evil away are pulled into the light in full force. I’ve read stories and heard reports of that sort of thing happening, and it’s so easy for human beings to say: “Served ’em right!”
But mercy is hard. Mercy isn’t easy for us to do. It’s easy when it’s a cute puppy, or an innocent child, or a person about to drown. It’s much more difficult when its someone who is just awful to you. It’s more difficult when you read about the wicked actions of politicians that make stupid choices, and you just want to scream at them and talk about how rotten they are. It’s harder when you are having a really bad day. Again, justice is a wonderful thing! That feeling that wrongs must be righted is a good feeling to have. God Himself is not a God of wrath and justice alone. Those are majestic qualities, and I’m so glad that He loves justice; but He also is the most merciful, patient Being in the universe.
Those pillars of His nature, His justice and mercy are revealed everywhere. In the face of the stubborn human sin of the people of Israel, God doesn’t wipe them off the map. He could, and they’d have it coming! But He made a promise. He spares them not because of anything they could do, but because that’s who He is. At the same time, God doesn’t slap the wilderness generation on the wrist: they are forced to wander aimlessly, and their children will be the ones to see the Promised Land, not them. They chose to rebel and to sin constantly, despite God’s signs and wonders and deliverance, and they were sentenced based on their own disobedience. But there it is: justice…and mercy.
The ultimate intersection of these immutable characteristics of God are perfectly revealed in the Cross. Jesus’ takes the full force of justice — as God’s ultimate expression of mercy.
He is and will be the one who will bring down the thunder and bring justice to evil people and to the devil and all darkness…and (not but!) mercy to those who waited so fervently and loyally.
It’s hard for me to try and practice mercy in my words regarding people who are making evil choices. I don’t have an obligation to coddle and dismiss evil, but I am also not the Judge. I can say “This is wrong, and God will bear justice and righteous vengeance on sin and evil” and also say “I don’t want that to happen to anyone.” I can stand for what is right, but stand up for gentility and civility. I can choose to have compassion for those who face the reality their evil actions created, and hope they repent.
Justice isn’t justice without genuine, God-breathed mercy.
If you need to hear that, hear it. Be the mercy-giver and the justice-pursuer. God is not one or the other, and we are His representatives on the earth. I will do my best, with the Holy Spirit’s help, to be both. It’s not always easy, but I believe it will always be worth it.
