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The Proper Way To Deal With Sin: Love And Mercy

The Proper Way To Deal With Sin: Love And Mercy

Last updated on: August 4, 2024 at 2:34 am by Henry Karlson

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The Proper Way To Deal With Sin: Love And Mercy 2024-08-04T02:34:58-05:00 Henry Karlson

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Claude Vignon: Parable Of The Unforgiving Servant / Wikimedia Commons

Several times during his ministry Jesus made it clear that we are not to go out into the world looking for people to judge and condemn. That is not what we have been tasked to do. We should not let a spirit of condemnation rule over us. If we do so, we find ourselves leaving the path of salvation ourselves, thereby risking being the ones who are condemned. Instead, we are expected to follow the way of love and mercy, recognizing that the love and mercy God has shown to us should be shared with all we meet. We should not have it circumvented by a judgmental spirit. Grace is not something which is limited so that if we get it, others cannot, or if others get it, we risk losing what we have; rather, it is the reverse, the more of it we share, the more it will be shared to us, and so the more we give, the more we will receive. Similarly, the more we try to cut others off from it, the more we will find ourselves being cut off from it as well:

Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart” (Matt. 18:23-35 RSV).

We should always remember we are sinners, that is, we have sinned and continue to have sinful habits which get the best of us. We should try to overcome our sins and the way they influence us, even as we should do what we can to heal the harm we have caused as a result of our sins. Then, we will understand that much more what God’s love for us is like: despite all that we have done, God loves us and is willing to forgive us and give us the grace we need to deal with and overcome our failings. Indeed, we can become and will become even better than what we were thanks to God’s grace, for it will set us free, and once free, we will be able to share in more and more of God’s freedom for ourselves. The more we engage God and embrace God’s ways, the more we will follow God in love and want others to share in the freedom we have been given.

We should share the grace we have received, showing others the same love and grace God has shown us, forgiving instead of judging and condemning them, especially when they, like us, recognize their own failings and seek forgiveness for them. Love would have us give it to them, even as God’s love gives it to us. Certainly, love would not have us seek out sinners just to condemn them. Jesus, after all, said he did not come into the world to condemn it, or those in it, but to save us all.

This does not mean we should ignore the structures of sin in the world. We are to do what we can to overcome them. We should work for justice, true justice, a justice which is supported by love and mercy; that way, we can fight against the powers that be instead of mere flesh and blood, doing what we can to heal the world from all the harm sin has caused it. We can and should expect to do our part, making recompense for what we have done which have needlessly hurt others, knowing of course, that what we are unable to God will be able to do for us, but only if we cooperate with grace and let it perfect us and the world in and through us. We should likewise encourage others to look into themselves, to see what harm they have done, and do what they can to fix the problems they have caused as well as to open themselves up to God’s grace so that they can then find God working through them to heal the harm which they have caused. That way, we can work together and with God to dismantle the structures of sin we have established in the world. This, of course, still must all be done in and with love, for without love and mercy, work for justice can and will become legalistic and imbalanced, and instead of freeing society, we will just replace one structure of sin with another.

Jesus, just as much as he indicated we should be merciful and not be judgmental, made it clear that sin is to be taken seriously. It is to be seen for what it is. It is to be treated with the right medicine – love and grace. Taking sin seriously, pointing out why it is wrong , pointing out the harm it causes, pointing out the reason why those who sin will need to make recompence for their sins, is fine so long as mercy and grace, not judgment, prevails. But if our focus is on the sin, and the condemnation of sin, so that we end up judging and condemning others without mercy, we shall find that same judgment will be made against us, and, as per Jesus’ parable, we will have to pay back all the debt we have accrued due to our sin.

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N.B.: While I read comments to moderate them, I rarely respond to them. If I don’t respond to your comment directly, don’t assume I am unthankful for it. I appreciate it. But I want readers to feel free to ask questions, and hopefully, dialogue with each other. I have shared what I wanted to say, though some responses will get a brief reply by me, or, if I find it interesting and something I can engage fully, as the foundation for another post. I have had many posts inspired or improved upon thanks to my readers.

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