Can Mercy and Judgment Coexist? 2

GodThoughtsWired!            Thursday, November 3, 2011*

Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion

Can mercy and judgment coexist?

2

"LIFE IS NOT FAIR,
BUT GOD IS JUST...
AND HE HAS AN ETERNITY TO PROVE IT!"
-Pastor Brad

Illustration:  A child is brutally raped, beaten, tortured and murdered.  The guilty man is caught and brought before a judge with whom the child's grieving mother and father await the verdict.  The judge says, "Because I am a loving and forgiving judge, I am letting the offender go free without any punishment."

Now let's say you are the mother or father in this illustration.  How do you feel about the judge's verdict?  Mercy has been extended but justice has not been served!

May I suggest to you that judgment is an extension of God's love! (see Hebrews 12:5-11).  And may I also suggest to you that, in this illustration, righteously judging the criminal would have extended mercy to both the victims parents...AND the criminal.*

"WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE LOVE
OF GOD UNTIL WE GRASP THE HORROR
OF OUR SIN AND THE SACRIFICIAL
TORMENT THAT JESUS CHOSE TO
PAY ON OUR BEHALF."
-Pastor Brad

In God's kingdom, mercy and justice coexist.

*I'm interested to hear from you - How could it be possible that  judging the criminal righteously would be "merciful?"

**Originally published in December 2010

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