What We Miss About God's Mercy

People today, even many Christians, are more concerned about a need for tolerance than a need for mercy. There is a great difference! Josh McDowell, a world-renowned author and speaker, says that tolerance and Christian love cannot coexist.

Similarly, tolerance and mercy cannot coexist. Tolerance says, “Don’t judge me!” Mercy says, “I forgive you,” clearly implying a wrong was committed. That is what Jesus modeled with the woman caught in adultery. The Word of God exhorts Christians to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Mercy rooted in love demands that a person be told if he is doing something self-destructive or harmful to others.

The problem we encounter in separating mercy and tolerance is that we live in an age where the majority of our society does not accept the idea of absolute truth. The biblical concept of sin has been replaced by a demand for tolerance of any culturally sanctioned activity. Consequently, tolerance has replaced mercy, especially in government, schools, colleges, industry, and the media. Tolerance is demanded for almost every bizarre and perverted belief and behavior.

When tolerance reigns and absolutes are eliminated, when diversity becomes the catch-all phrase for accepting even gross sinful and self-centered behavior, then people feel no need for the mercy of God. Instead, many rationalize their behavior with excuses like these:

“Even if I am unfaithful to my wife, I’m sure God will understand. After all, He knows I have needs that are not being met.”

“Remember, this is my first time getting caught with drugs. I am basically a good man who looks after my wife and kids, and I know God will recognize that.”

What has happened? We have tried to reduce God to our size, to our standards, and to what we believe He ought to be like. This makes us feel comfortable. Too often we want Him to respond like we would respond to sin and injustice. We want Him to accept us on our standards of behavior. Since we are tolerant and non-judgmental with other’s sins, we want everyone including God to be tolerant with ours. In this way, we do not have to change our ways or feel guilty about them. “Live and let live” is the world’s philosophy, but it is not God’s.

God set the example. He extends mercy and maintains His standards perfectly. He made the dearest sacrifice for our forgiveness; yet He judges and disciplines people for their sin. He loves unconditionally; yet He completely understands our weaknesses and failings. That is what mercy is all about. Unlike tolerance, it does not sweep bad things under the rug. Mercy sees the whole picture, maintains right from wrong, and loves with the whole heart.

Can you do that? None of us can without the help of the Holy Spirit. Through Him, we can extend mercy without compromising truth. Tolerance toward wrong behavior is not love; it is a cheap counterfeit—a lie.

Isn’t it wonderful to celebrate the mercy God has given us? At the same time, God will not remove all the consequences of our actions just because He is merciful.

When David and Bathsheba committed adultery, God forgave David after he confessed his sin. Nathan the prophet says about David’s forgiveness, “The Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. But you have given the enemies of the Lord great opportunity to despise and blaspheme Him, so your child will die” (2 Samuel 12:13,14). David experienced the consequences of his sin but God also restored him. Later, God even allowed David and Bathsheba to have another child. That child became the wisest man who ever lived: King Solomon.

God does not forgive halfway. He cleared the sin-debt against David. But God, in His wisdom, knows that if we never suffer consequences for our actions, we will not learn our lesson completely.

Mercy, which extends unconditional forgiveness, is the loving response. Let us then follow Christ’s example as we receive mercy from God and in return extend mercy to all we meet.

By Bill Bright

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