What IS “Mercy”?
It's not what the Left, especially, tries to convince us it is
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”—Jesus, Matthew 5:7
I think most normal people understand the need for “mercy.” We all need God, and others, to be merciful to us at times, and in response, decent people comprehend they should be merciful to others as well. That is part of what Jesus means in Matthew 5:7. We won’t receive God’s mercy if we aren’t merciful to others.
But there is, especially among Leftists and, frankly, all people whose main goal in life is to sin, to abuse what “mercy” really means and is. A few points.
We all need to be merciful, because we all need mercy ourselves. But mercy is not a approval of sin. Mercy opposes sin. God is certainly “merciful” to us, but that doesn’t mean He likes or approves of sin.
Mercy is an understanding that all of us are sinners, and in need of the grace of God. But, again, that does not mercy approves sin and, indeed, attempts to correct it, when possible. I don’t (shouldn’t) or approve, or even tolerate, sin in my own life. I try to remove it, and I try to do the same thing for others, all the while understanding that I need God’s mercy, and trying to be merciful to others. “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:1-2). “Oh, go ahead and sin,” God says, “I will be merciful to you and not demand you cease your sinful activity.” No, that is not God’s grace and mercy. God understands (and we should, too), but He does not approve of sin (nor should we). Sin is to be exposed and rebuked, not tolerated. That is the loving, merciful thing to do: “As many as I love,” Jesus said, “I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:19)
Truly, the most loving and merciful thing you can do for a person is to try to help them repent and overcome their sin. And forgive them when they do. God is indeed merciful. But His message is still “repent” (Acts 2:38).
For there will come a time when God’s mercy will cease and His justice will take over. “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.” He will, if we seek His mercy on His terms. God’s mercy is not unconditional; never has been, never will be. Using God’s “mercy” as an excuse to sin must be repulsive to Him. It certainly is an insult.
Be merciful to others so that God will be merciful to you. But don’t use “mercy” as a reason to excuse your sins or the sins of others. God’s mercy has never worked that way.