Monday, December 14, 2015
The Power of Mercy
I don't know about any of you, but I am not a naturally merciful person. I thought for a long time that if someone hit you then the best way to show them that was a bad idea is to hit them back harder. Maybe I was right about that, but whether you think that's true or not, the bigger picture and most important thing is not to teach them that was a bad idea at all. The bigger picture is that God be glorified in what you do. Now I don't know if God is most glorified in you taking another punch. Maybe He is. Expand this idea to all realms of wrong doing and think about the one doing wrong. Before we were saved, we didn't even know what sin was. How could we be expected to fight against it? Many people are still there, lost. They cannot see that they do wrong. Sometimes all they see is that they get punched in the face by a Christian who tells them God loves them before hitting them again. Maybe instead of hitting them back, yelling at them, condemning them, or whatever else we just throw a ton of mercy and love at them, and then we let God take up the sword when it's time fore that. What does that look like in everyday life? Maybe we don't freak out or get offended when people swear. Maybe we shrug off the crude humor. Remember that they can see you walk out of the room. I don't like it either. When I hear God's name taken in vain, it's like fingernails on the chalkboard in my soul. Think about when Jesus hung out with tax collectors and prostitutes. I think He probably heard things He didn't want to either. I may be wrong, but I don't think He walked out of the room. People will notice when you don't take part in the gossip after a while. They will notice very quickly when you don't cuss. They will notice even more quickly when you refuse to be around them. Maybe if you hang out with them and be their friend, you can share the Gospel with them and watch them move from death to life. "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—" (Ephesians 2:1-5).
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It's a tough decision, to think what to do in each circumstance. In school, any age, what do you do if a kid hits you. If you just walk away chances are no teacher will ever see it in order to punish the bully. If the child does not defend themselves then the same bully will continue. Of course, if the child defends themselves, the teachers will finally see it and both kids are punished. What to do.
ReplyDeleteKids aren't going to pull out a Bible, and start talking to the kid, that just hit them, about God.
If someone hits you, you might be doing them a favor to hit them back harder. It might make them think twice before hitting anyone else, and if you refuse to hit back, it may encourage them to continue to be a bully, to you and others.
Of course, as an adult, in somewhat civilized conditions, I would recommend filing an assault charge. Charges can make another adult think twice. Praying for the person to change might help, but I'm not sure, since God gives everyone free will. I know praying for all politicians to become honest hasn't helped yet.
When it comes to children an adult should NEVER hit them because you are teaching that child that hitting is acceptable. Many times a child is acting out and there is a reason for it. You and the child need to talk about this to find out how to help them.
Bullies will always seek out the most vulnerable children and bullies can cause immense damage, maybe physically, but always mentally.