Liberty and Mercy - James 2:12-13

James 2:12-13 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. (NRSV)

Liberty is a big thing in the United States. Many of our folks would defend it at the cost of our lives and when we feel it is being suppressed or encroached upon, we speak out against those who are hindering or harming our right to be free. Our fierce independence is entwined with our liberty, so, therefore, it is not something to be trampled on or carelessly neglected.

However, James the brother of Jesus had a different notion about liberty because he associated it with acts of mercy. His belief as a Christian was that liberty is not the right to do what we want (that’s actually anarchy), it is a God-given, unalienable right which we should freely use to show mercy to others. In other words, because God graciously and mercifully grants us freedom, we should aspire to justly and liberally do the same.

Justice and mercy are the fruits of a free and faithful people. Liberty is not a selfish right we fiercely possess; it is a gracious gift that we as Christians should want to share. When we fail or deliberately choose not to show mercy, we place ourselves under God’s judgment, so we should be very careful about how we express our freedom. If we use it as a weapon to deny others grace, justice, and love, then we are in danger of giving God no other choice but to judge us by our own standards. So, let’s all try to live our lives as Christ once put it: ‘Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy.’ (Matthew 5:7)

Application: Do I use my freedom to apply mercy to others, or am I guilty of preserving my liberty solely for myself?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You purchased God’s mercy for us by dying on the Cross even though we did not deserve such a gracious blessing. You freed us from the slavery of sin and selfishness. Challenge our ideas and opinions, as well as our hearts and minds, to not only receive Your mercy but to show the same to all. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings based on the beautiful Micah 6v8 Bible verse. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Mercy.

The Trouble with Free Will - 1 Corinthians 10:23

1 Corinthians 10:23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. (NIV)

            The trouble with both free will and liberty is that we begin to believe there are no boundaries or limits to what we can think, say, or do. We insist on having our own way and protest if anyone infringes on our rights. We govern ourselves and will not let anyone impose restrictions on what we desire to do and woe betide anyone who says otherwise. However, the unintended result is that we end up with a fragmented society where individualism is idolized and social justice is marginalized. We look after number one and everyone else can look after themselves.

            That may be the way our society is going, but if apply the moniker ‘Christian’ to our lives, then we live under the sovereignty of God, so our selfish behavior places us under His judgment. This is why Paul emphasized the need to reflect on our conduct. No matter what we do or what rights we think we have, as Christians our deeds should always be accompanied by two questions: Is this beneficial? Is this constructive?

            Far too often, we see the religious zeal of Christianity which insists on getting its own way and doing its own thing, no matter how unbeneficial or unhelpful it may be. The rest of society looks on us with disdain and wonder why we’ve disconnected ourselves to the Founder of our faith, especially when we omit to show compassion, love, or grace. We can insist on being right instead of being kind, but all we will do is circle our wagons, build a wall, and enclose ourselves in a pit of our own making which will eventually destroy our effectiveness as disciples of Christ and missionaries of His Word.

            So, the challenge that we have before us is this: whatever I seek to say or do today, I need to ask two things as a Christian, living under the sovereignty of God and not my own personal morality: Is this beneficial? Is this constructive?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, remind us that we serve You and not ourselves. Keep us from allowing pride or contempt to overrule our compassion and love. Retell us the story of how Your grace has been applied to our lives and help us to share it selflessly with others. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to give some feedback on today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s holiday drawings called “Liberty Roses.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Roses.