[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[Mr. Douglas]

...if we have been lifted from our poor, sinful, wretched state to become citizens of heaven, how can we withhold mercy from others?

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I agree, but their can be complications. One example: being “merciful” to people who are in the country illegally or on welfare indefinitely is actually being unmerciful to those that it hurts (e.g. taxpayers). There are times when it is easy to identify what is a merciful act, but other times when even being merciful is actually being unmerciful. Another example would be being merciful to a young person who has done something wrong - and not making them pay a penalty for what they did. So they grow up with no character because they’ve never learned to take responsibility for their actions.

For me, it’s being merciful to bad drivers. Accept that they suck at driving and don’t call them names and hope they lose control and drive off the road and kill themselves in a blazing fireball.

No, wait. I’ve never thought that about anybody.

[afsnco]

There’s a huge difference between being merciful in a charitable way and being merciful to the point of excusing or condoning sin. On the contrary, we’re to abhor sin (Rom. 12:9)