A Christian man wants to show compassion to a hungry beggar. In order to do so, he must steal from his employer.
A Christian woman wants to show mercy on a married man who she caught in an affair. In order to do so she must lie to his wife.
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What is it to sin knowingly to show mercy or compassion? To know you are going to act against what your faith tells you is righteous, in order to do something your heart and mind say is loving. This is a most serious topic.
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Exodus 19:15
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Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.
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How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
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And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
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Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
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And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
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What else will distinguish us from those around us, if we have to sin to be loving? What is it to bring the light into the darkness? Well, I say to you that there are circumstances, that certain sins do not lead us to death. "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."
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1 John 5:16
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If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.
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All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
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We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.
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We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
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There are certain times in our lives when we must remember the mercy and compassion of our God, and take a blind step of faith. To truly risk ourselves, to show love, selflessly, and even at cost of sin. This is not common, this is not normal, but it does happen. The danger of this understanding is very real, and this lesson must be given with this caution.
Why caution? Because those who would use this lesson to their own advantage. They would say that to sin is a path to love, and that is saying there is darkness in the light. Which is fully unacceptable.
But there will be circumstances, where as believers, we must consider that it is better to face judgement of a sin made, then to allow another to suffer. I am saying, that in some cases, to sin to show mercy will bring us into judgement, yes. But that if we show mercy, we may receive it, ..may. So what is it to risk eternal judgement for the sake of another? Love, selfless love.
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John 15:12,13
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My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
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Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
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"I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." And further: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
So let us deeply consider the ramifications. To knowingly sin to show mercy, to knowingly sin to show compassion. To risk eternal judgement so to act lovingly. What is this but an act of great love. What is more, it is taking a leap of faith in our understanding of the qualities of mercy and compassion. Love is sacrificial, selfless.
There are very seldom a circumstance where a sin does not lead to death. I believe if we must sin to show mercy, or if we must sin to show compassion, we will be judged, yes, but if our sincerity and awareness are known to God, that mercy or compassion will find us too.
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1 Peter 4:8
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Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
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Consider this lesson. Do not fall into the temptation to make excuses for sin. But if you do come into a circumstance where doing something loving requires you to sin, consider it will mean judgement of your act.
May the Father deeply enrich those who contemplate His mystery.
Amen.
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