What if Christians Encouraged More Than We Criticized?
What if we manifested mercy more than judgment? (Discussion questions included)
What if Christians encouraged more than criticized?
What if we showed more appreciation than disdain? What if we manifested more mercy than judgment and built more bridges than we destroy?
By experience, I can testify that doing these "what ifs" is only possible in view of the cross.
By nature, I criticize, judge, disdain, etc.
What does the cross say to someone like that? Like me?
On one hand, it says, "Your problem is worse than you think. Nothing criticizes, judges, and condemns like the law of God. Not because it is cruel. But because it is true, fair, and demands justice.”
But on the other hand, it says, "Jesus' heart of compassion, kindness, and mercy is so great for you, that he gladly (for his joy!) endured justice for the criticism, judgment, and condemnation you deserved. The reason you are not seen in the eyes of the Father with disdain is that you are now his delight in Christ, covered in his perfect righteousness."
Through the cross, Jesus built the ultimate bridge, reconciling me to God as a fully forgiven, perfectly accepted, and dearly loved child of the Father.
When I abide in that gospel reality, the Holy Spirit fills me, reorienting my desires to match the heart of Jesus—not only his heart for me but for other sinners like me.
This is why it's only in view of the cross, abiding in Jesus as Justifier, that we can even have the desire, much less the power, to reflect his heart.
We Christians talk a lot about truth and a biblical worldview. And we should.
But let's make sure we do not forget that seeing the kingdom and all matters related is the result of being born again (John 3).
According to Paul in Ephesians 2, we were spiritually dead. At least I was! 🙂
The only reason I can see anything is grace.
God intervened to raise me from the dead, giving me eyes to see and ears to hear the good news. The operative word is "he gave."
Seeing truth is grace.
Seeing grace is grace.
Having a heart for the worst of sinners (like me) to receive the same grace is... grace. It's all a gift.
These are gifts I want to celebrate!
If I don't celebrate and savor the gospel, I fear that I'll slide back into the darkness of moralistic legalism, claiming to see while being blind.
Just like the Pharisees in Jesus' day.
You see, only the spiritually alive can see grace.
And when we really, really see it—like a visit to the Grand Canyon—it is hard to unsee its wonder, beauty, and transforming power.
In fact, when I gaze upon the cross, grace will become the defining truth of my life.
Why is this so important? Because every disciple of Jesus is his ambassador to the world. And the world needs to see his cross-shaped heart reflected in his people.
The world needs to see his cross-shaped heart reflected in his people.
It is the kind of heart that we see in Matthew 9:10-13,
10Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Besides yourself, do you know any other sinners?
Great! Then they're perfect candidates for the kingdom of God.
Whether a liberal, progressive, younger brother sinner or a buttoned-up, conservative elder brother sinner.
If they are trying to save themselves by rejecting God's law (the former) or by keeping God's law (the latter), both are equally lost.
And when we hear of someone being lost, don't we desire they be found?
Do we get angry at people who are lost? Or do we pity them?
Maye we've forgotten what it was to be lost? That would be a pity, indeed.
Thankfully, the kingdom of God is the only group where being unqualified is the primary qualification for membership.
Someone might say, "You're going soft on sin."
I understand. Mercy can sound like minimizing the weight of God's law, and I have no desire to do that.
The issue is where we place the weight.
First, I must place the full weight of the law on myself. Not on anyone else.
The problem is that we typically place the weight of the law on others. Placing a much lighter burden of failure upon ourselves.
Again, just like the Pharisees.
So, first I must put myself under the weight of the law. Then I must put myself under the fullness of Jesus' blood—the weight of mercy.
That will change how I place the weight of the law upon others. I will not take the law lightly. But also, I will not minimize mercy.
In fact, in Ephesians 1, when reflecting on the extravagant mercy of the cross, Paul exclaims a doxology, "To the praise of God's glorious grace!"
The Hebrew word for glory literally means weighty or heavy (kavod, כָּבוֹד). Therefore, to praise God’s glorious grace is to magnify the weight of mercy.
And I believe, in the kingdom's economy, mercy outweighs judgment.
I suppose the question comes down to whether I will love mercy like the merciful king or choose judgment like the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35).
Look upon the cross of Jesus and choose for yourself.
For Discussion
How can reflecting on our own experience of being lost and found by God's grace help us to better empathize with the lostness of others?
How does the cross help us reorient our hearts towards other sinners?
How can Christians be ambassadors of Jesus' cross-shaped heart to a world that craves love, compassion, and forgiveness?
What does it mean to say that in the kingdom's economy, mercy outweighs judgment? How can this perspective impact the way we interact with others?
How can Christians avoid falling into the trap of moralistic legalism and instead focus on the transformative power of grace?
I like that a lot McKay. For me, the continuous lesson is, 'God shows mercy to people that Jon thinks He shouldn't.' People that I judge He shows mercy on, people that I condemn He accepts. Thanks for that.