Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 2:12-13
Last Sunday Sam spoke about favoritism vs the Law of Love, and he mentioned impartiality, or equitability, as the best we as a society have managed to offer in its place.
Now it may seem that that is ideal - no bias, no favoritism, no difference in treatment sounds great, right? And that is honestly the most we can offer when we come at the issue from a position of strength.
What does that mean? Simple. When trying to find equality through strength, there is always someone/some group that believes the following: “I’m/they’re stronger/better/richer/better looking/smarter so I/they deserve more than everyone else.” It’s very hard to avoid favoritism when you’re judging people’s strengths in order to determine what they deserve.
In my limited experience, I’ve found the most love, respect, and care in groups that have gathered together and bonded not through their strengths (hobbies, interests, abilities, etc.) but through their weaknesses (poverty, tragedy, struggles). If you’ve ever played team sports, been in a music ensemble, or done anything that requires group effort, you might recognize this. When you focus on strengths, what do you get? Pride, competitiveness, scorn, one-upmanship…you get the idea. But when you instead focus on supporting and shoring up one another’s weaknesses, you get a team. Love, community, bonding.
This is what I think James meant in the verse above. What is the law that gives freedom? God’s demand for perfection in order to be in His presence, coupled with His sacrifice in order to grant us that perfection, through no effort of our own (since He and we all know that perfection is impossible for imperfect people like us). God’s law tells us His expectations, and brings us all down to the same level - not worthy. Not deserving.
God’s love tells us He was and is willing to take the judgment on Himself. To pay the price for our imperfection so that we can be in His presence and enjoy all that is good and right and wonderful. It’s not a meritocracy - we don’t have to try to earn it. Our strength’s are not enough. So it’s a gift. Mercy.
When we live with mercy in mind, all of a sudden it’s much easier to love others, to be patient with their struggles, to want to cover over their weaknesses with our own strengths, and to trust them to do the same for us. Equitability, equality, impartiality, those are no longer concerns because we have something better. The Law of Love.
So, dear friend, I hope and pray that this week you will continue (or start) to live a life of weakness instead of strength. To trust in God’s perfection and HIs goodness, and to let His love shine in and through you to everyone you encounter.
