Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Why Mercy, Not Condemnation, Leads Sinners Home

Why Mercy, Not Condemnation, Leads Sinners Home

Last updated on: October 29, 2026 at 4:59 am by Henry Karlson

0 Comments

Why Mercy, Not Condemnation, Leads Sinners Home 2026-10-29T04:59:49-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Christ met sinners where they are at. Painting uploaded by wikipaintings: Hemiradsky’s Painting Of Christ and Sinner / Wikimedia Commons

Christ was accused of being a sinner, not only because of his willingness to be with them, but because he showed them mercy. He stopped a woman from being stoned. He proclaimed that tax collectors and prostitutes were closer to God than those who looked down upon them, thinking they were pious and pure, while the tax collectors and prostitutes were sinners. “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you” (Matt. 21:31b RSV). Many of those who studied the law and the prophets, those who held positions of religious authority, complained about the way Jesus interpreted or engaged the Torah. “Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, ‘Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat’” (Matt. 15:1-2 RSV). These complaints were not made out of any concern for hygiene; they were about concerns for ritual purity. Jesus’ critics thought that Jesus treated purity laws in a blasphemous manner. It infuriated them and it is one of many reasons why Jesus was a challenge to them; he confronted their simplistic, legalistic, domineering and controlling mindset and exposed how it, not those who were merciful, ended up far from God and God’s ways.

Jesus showed us that we are to accommodate ourselves to the people we meet, to deal with them within their context, to show them love, taking into consideration their hopes and fears, but also dealing with them in such a way as to first address grave issues before addressing various secondary concerns. He explained that this is how God dealt with the people of Israel. “He said to them, ‘For your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so’” (Matt. 19:8 RSV). Divorce is not good, but there are times in which it might be needed, that it would be worse if it is not given some allowance, which is why God accepted the flexibility Moses gave it. The intention was always for there to be no divorce, but that requires all marriages to be perfect, or at least, safe for those in them. Why God allowed divorce, why it was given such a dispensation, is that without it, a greater evil would have emerged, as many would have found themselves in abusive, if not, deadly situations if they were force to remain in a bad marriage. In this way, we learn such accommodation is sometimes necessary, and when it is done, it is not done in support of sin, but rather, as a way to counter a greater sin, as Robert of Melun explained:

What Moses permitted was a dispensation. Since fornication is a lesser evil than murder, he permitted them to divorce their wives and take others lest they should be led to commit murder. That is, he permitted a lesser evil in order that a greater evil might be avoided. [1]

It is not right to read the mercy of Christ, and with it, the mercy of the church, as it is shown to sinners, accommodating to them where they are at, so as to help them better themselves and their situation, as supporting of sin. It is rather the reverse. It is about giving proper pastoral guidance, helping people avoid greater evils, greater, and worse sins. The mercy and grace offered in such situations will help those who accept it, and as it does so, it will help change the situation so that, over time the dispensation or grace might not be needed. The church is taking the sin seriously, but it is not dealing with it in a Pelagian manner. By the nature of the dispensation, that is, by the fact the church follows divine economia to help people in difficult situations, it is not affirming sin. Rather, it is embracing people the way Christ embraces everyone with love, and works with them, giving them more opportunities for grace, making sure they are not abandoned in the way legalists, who simply want to judge and condemn people quickly for their sins, would have them do. Such condemnation would have them stuck in their sins, and so reify them, instead of providing a way beyond them. And they would have to end up condemning Moses, the lawgiver, as promoting sin, just as much as they condemn the church for promoting sin, if their views were correct.

Sadly, throughout the centuries of the church’s existence, legalists have consistently rise up, upset at the church’s use of mercy. Each time, they denounce the church, claiming it supports sin when it shows mercy to some sinner. This is exactly what happened when, in the aftermath of persecution, the church let those who lapsed and denounced their faith back into the community of the faithful. The Novatians spoke against such mercy, even to the extent of attacking the pope; they entered into schism with the church as they promoted their small little sect as the pure, authentic church (despite the fact that no one is pure, we all sin, and Christ came for sinners, not those so caught up in such vainglory). Christ shows us, in his person, and thus through the church, the body of Christ, the truth proclaimed by the prophets, that is, God is merciful, seeking to promote and use mercy instead of condemnation to bring positive change:

And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners’ (Matt. 9:10-13 RSV).

Christ shows us how to take sin seriously. Condemnation is easy, but it doesn’t really address sin, and rarely does it help convince people to change. Most of the time, when confronted with such condemnation, they become defensive and respond by doing that which they are told not to do. This is why mercy is important; being merciful and kind to others helps them feel respected, it makes them feel cared for and loved, it helps them feel people are truly concerned for their own welfare. It also helps them understand, if they want to change, if they want to get better, the church is there for them, helping them along the way, realizing change often comes in steps instead of being instantaneous. The church will make sure that those who struggle and find themselves giving into sin, especially when sin has become an addiction or a bad habit, do not fall into despair as they know they will receive mercy and God will continue to be there for them despite their weaknesses. Those who are quick to condemn often use the pretense of holiness to do so; they, like the Novatians, think the are pure, and so are ready to throw the first stone. They do not take their own sins seriously. Instead, they lift themselves up just like the Pharisee in the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. They ignore their own sins, and their own need for Gods mercy and grace. And as such, they do not get it. They end up up cutting themselves from God’s mercy, the mercy which they need, perhaps even more than those they condemn, because of their pride and vainglory. Which is Jesus warned those who are judgmental risk being the ones who end up being condemned: “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get” (Matt. 7:2 RSV).

We must heed this lesson; we must learn to be merciful, embracing the grace found in that mercy, so that we can give to others the mercy and grace we have received. When we do so, we find ourselves receiving more and more of it, until we are filled with mercy and become vessels of mercy to the world:

If a man desires to obtain mercy in heaven, he should bestow it in this world. Therefore, since all want mercy, dearly beloved, let us make her our patron in this life so that she may free us in the life to come. Mercy abides in heaven, but it is reached by the exercise of it on earth. [2]

If we justify being judgmental by saying we are just condemning sin, if we justify being harsh and cruel to others, saying it is the best way to teach others right from wrong, we show we have yet to learn that which we want to teach others. While we must not be silent about injustices, while we need not be silent about sin, we must not be cruel, we must not be harsh, and if we are, we need to be concerned with ourselves and the injustices we promote by such activity. We must be loving, using love as the foundation for how we deal with others. If we are harsh and cruel, we are embracing the way of unlove, the way of sin, and we risk becoming nihilistic, seeking to destroy anything and anyone we believe is tainted by sin (as seen in the way people wrongly think the solution to crime is the death penalty). If we want to truly address sin, we must follow the way of grace: grace perfects nature, and that is what we should be doing, working to bring to perfection the good in others instead of focusing on the bad and using it to needlessly tear them down. Again, we are told, when we do this, we will find such mercy coming back to us when we come come face to face with Christ:

But since “mercy will be exalted over condemnation” and the gifts of clemency will surpass any just compensation, all the lives led by mortals and all different kinds of actions will be appraised under the aspect of a single rule. No charges will be brought up where, in acknowledgment of the Creator, works of compassion have been found. [3]

We must try to be everything with everyone. This means, embracing them where they are at, as Paul said he did in his ministry:

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews; to those under the law I became as one under the law — though not being myself under the law — that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law — not being without law toward God but under the law of Christ — that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings (1 Cor. 9:19 -23 RSV).

This is not just the way of Paul but it is the way of God, the way of Christ, the incarnate God-man, whom Paul imitates:

In spite of all these things, God remains well disposed toward everyone. To no one does he deny his mercy. Why, he even bestows many good things indiscriminately upon all. He prefers to invite with acts of kindness those whom he could rightly subdue with punishments. Delay in retribution makes room for repentance. It cannot be said, however, that there is no vengeance where conversion does not take place. For, a hard and ungrateful mind becomes already its own punishment. It suffers in its conscience whatever has been deferred by the goodness of God. [4]

The church puts this in practice when it shows mercy, helping people who need it, not through judgment or condemnation, but by encouraging them, helping them grow and become the person God wants them to be. This is why the church often uses dispensations, or deals with sinners who are in impossible situations, by way of “economia.” The church knows the need for grace; it knows that if it becomes too judgmental and makes it difficult for people to receive the grace they need to change and become better, it risks losing the lost sheep Christ, those Christ wants the church to find and bring back into good graces with God. Indeed, the church risks being the cause by which people stumble and turn their back on God, which it knows, Christ has warned against: “”Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea” (Mk. 9:42 RSV). Those who deny mercy, those who contend against the church and its economic use of dispensation, will have to deal with their own lack of mercy, their own denial of mercy, when they come to the eschatological judgment. Will they want to be the ones who made people stumble?

[1] Robert of Melun, “Questions on the Divine Page,” in Interpretation of Scripture: Practice. Trans. Franklin T. Harkins. Ed. Frans van Leiere and Franklin T. Harkins (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 2015), 329

[2] St. Caesarius of Arles, Sermons Volume I (1-80). Trans. Mary Magdeleine Mueller, OSF (New York: Fathers of the Church, 1956), 127 [Sermon 25].

[3] St Leo the Great, Sermons. Trans. Jane Patricia Freeland CSJB and Agnes Josephine Conway SSJ (Washington, DC: CUA Press, 1996), 47 [Sermon 11].

[4] St Leo the Great, Sermons, 153-4 [Sermon 35].

Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook.
If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with your friends and family!

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.

General Christian

Previous Post

October 27, 2026

Desert Fathers And Mothers On Anger And Community

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"First things first is the easiest way forward. "If someone is bleeding profusely, we must ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

Why We Must Embrace Empathy, Sympathy ..."

"Gosh, did that hit the spot. I have been having great anxiety lately. And I ..."

Mark Wilson

Rejecting Doom: Christian Hope And Human ..."

"Justice and peace are two sides of the same coin. Where there is justice, there ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."

"Thank you for your very, very powerful and very, very insightful analysis of the relationship ..."

alwayspuzzled

Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Halloween Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Vainglory Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz