Matthew 9.13–Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

Micah 6.8–He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

There is an emphasis in the conversation of the church today concerning the church’s role in a rapidly deteriorating culture. In recent days, it seems the timeless balance of “be in the world but not of it” gets harder and harder with each passing generation. Another equilibrium that destabilizes from one extreme to the other each generation is strong, vocal stances against the sins of the age, versus a wizened, cautious resistance to sinful narratives of the culture. I am convinced there is a time and a place for both.

At times we see Jesus dining with Zacchaeus and gently rebuking Martha; at others, we see him flipping tables and calling Pharisees “vicious broods of vipers”–both attitudes needful for their times and places. But what about the rest of the time? What is the daily attitude to have as we walk in the world but not of it? I believe the two verses above capture our Christ-like, default setting.

It may still be a matter of prayer, Scripture searching, and reflection to determine the appropriate time to “draw in the sand” or “flip tables”, but I see a greater need in the church to discuss the daily attitude we are to display as disciples of Christ.

When Jesus was asked in Matthew 9 why he would be dining with sinners (at the home of Matthew/Levi) his answer begins with the famous analogy of a doctor needed for the sick, but we often miss the magnitude of his next thought: he desires mercy, not sacrifice.

To correctly understand Jesus’ statement, you must take into consideration what sacrifice meant in that culture. It was the demanded price for the retribution of sins. It meant that judgment was being dished out, but instead of you an your neighbor receiving retribution, a substitute was subject to the wrath and appeasement. Sacrifice was a necessary thing (that was the point of Jesus’ ministry), however, the Pharisees desired the judgment be dished out presently. They loved the letter of the law–and one should not associate with sinners. Even if you were not participating in their “heathen-ry”, you would surely become associated with their lifestyle, or at least be viewed as condoning of their sin.

Sound relevant to the controversy today?

Jesus brought them back around to the real issue. Although sacrifice was necessary, the Lord desired mercy. There’s the heart of God! He is holy. He cannot, will not, abide with sin; it will be punished. But the Father does not get kicks and giggles dishing out divine retribution as I fear too many “Christians” secretly (and sometimes not so secretly) do. In fact, God made it clear his desire was that “all would come to repentance”; at the same time recognizing that “narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be which find it”.

The crux of it reverts back to Micah 6:8. We are to do justice–we, us, ourselves–are to live righteously and encourage such behavior in others through Christ. But we are to also love mercy; desiring as our Father does that people would see the truth of his gospel, which has the power to make them who they need to be, who they were supposed to be, and, deep down, who they wish they could be. This brand of mercy requires patience, no, long-suffering (some language from the KJV need not be update). We must bear with people in the hopes that through our lives–transformed, transparent, genuine–accompanied by the gospel we share, will ignite in them an understanding, prompted by the Holy Spirit, leading to their own Damascus Road experience.

In order for us to be effective witnesses, in order for us to connect with a culture functioning far apart from a Scriptural basis, and in order for us to see people saved in these final days, we must love mercy. We must do justice ourselves and encourage, not haughtily command, such in other. This does not mean we shy away from shining the light on sin; we are, after all, “lights of the world”, but we cannot honestly expect people to exhibit, or even understand righteous attributes unless they have been transformed by the power of God.

It all must be tempered on the anvil of humbleness. Do not propagate hatred and oppressive behavior in the name of my long-suffering and loving God. It is his duty to lay on the conviction and, if necessary, judgment, it is ours to desire mercy, to speak and live the transforming love of God, and walk humbly with our God.

In retrospect, as Christ concludes in the above Matthew passage, he came to call the sinner, not the righteous. “And such were we all at one time…”