Have Mercy

Last week President Trump and Vice President Vance and their families attended The Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral. It’s a tradition that stretches back to 1933 and the inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The speaker at the service, Mariann Edgar Budde, identified as the “Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church” caused quite a stir with her sermon and direct appeal to the President.

She addressed the issue of illegal immigration and deportation with this request.

“I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land.”

In response, Jim Denison, on his web page asked, How we should view the issue of illegal immigration through the lens of Scripture?

As I note in my book, The State of Our Nation: 7 Critical Issues, illegal immigration is a complex issue. Scripture teaches, “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:21). The Bible consistently calls us to care for immigrants (cf. Leviticus 19:33–34; Deuteronomy 10:18–19; 24:19–22; Ezekiel 47:21–23; Zechariah 7:10; Malachi 3:5; Hebrews 13:2; Matthew 25:35). And we are told that God loves all of us, regardless of our place of origin (Galatians 3:26–29).

At the same time, immigrants or sojourners in the Bible are not in their countries illegally. Immigrants are to obey the law and customs of the land (Isaiah 56:6–7) and to assimilate into the culture of their host country (Deuteronomy 5:14; 16:9–15). They are not to break the law, no matter how difficult their circumstances (Proverbs 6:30–31).

In addition, the Bible consistently affirms the importance of border security: “When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples” (Deuteronomy 32:8). The Promised Land’s borders are delineated in Numbers 34:1–15 and Ezekiel 47:13–23. We are told, “Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set” (Proverbs 22:28).

Regardless of whether you agree with Denison’s analysis, or the policy of the current administration, let’s be careful not to get so absorbed in the politics and forget that we should be people of mercy. In His Mountain Message Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful.” He further admonished His followers to “be merciful, just as your Father is also merciful” (Lk. 6:36).

The Bible teaches the Jehovah is “the God of mercy (Ps. 59:12). We often think of mercy as a New Testament virtue found in Christ, but the Old Testament writers speak of mercy 233 times. The prophets speak often of His mercy on Israel and Judah.

However, God is also a God of justice. The “Lord loves righteousness and justice” (Ps. 33:5). Both mercy and justice are often connected in the same context (Ps.89:14; Hos. 2:19; Zec. 7:9). Justice and mercy are a difficult balance. But God is flawless in His justice. And gracious in His mercy. Both are based on His Righteousness and Truth.

Mercy identifies with the victim, empathizes with their plight and acts to do something about it. You see, mercy is more than just pity. It’s more than a feeling. And it’s not the same as grace. Mercy is compassion for people in need. Richard Lenski makes this distinction; “The noun (mercy) always deals with what we see of pain, misery and distress, that results of sin and (grace) always deals with the sin and guilt itself. The one extends relief, the other pardon; the one cures, heals, helps, and the other cleanses and reinstates.”

Jesus is called “the merciful and faithful high priest” (Heb. 2:17). Often came the plaintive cry from hurting people, “Oh Lord, have mercy on me!” And so we see His mercy in restoring sight to the blind. Casting out demons. Curing lepers. Healing the lame. And forgiving sins. He’s our perfect example of mercy.

Mercy reaches out to those who sin and need our encouragement. Paul exhorted the Corinthians, “When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won’’t give up in despair” (2 Cor. 2:7, CEV)

We all need mercy. We sin and fall short of the mark. And since God offers us mercy, we should extend mercy to one another. In the church family, it is important to show and share mercy. Rick Warren expressed it this way, “In real fellowship people experience mercy. Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren’t rubbed in but rubbed out. Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice. You can’t have fellowship without forgiveness because bitterness and resentment always destroy fellowship.”

God’s mercy should motivate us to be merciful. When you are hurt you can either choose to retaliate or seek a resolution. Mercy allows us to forgive. To let go of the past. To show compassion. And seek to restore trust and fellowship.

May our prayer be, “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner. And mold my heart to be merciful to others.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman