If you think that this about condemning an act of injustice, it is not. Many others have done this more effectively and persuasively. Murder is wrong. Humiliation, contempt, racism, and dehumanization are never justified. Legal consequences to murder should be indisputable. Reformation to corrupt laws should always be sought. I am not here to suggest a plan for political and social reform as I am not qualified to make suggestions. I am not here because of any extra merit coming from a “disadvantaged” group either. Yes, I am not white. I come from a country where Christians are systematically persecuted and women under-valued. But that should not give me any extra or less credibility. Judge my ideas according to their own merit.
I am here because I see a different challenge that lies at the core of Floyd’s story. Floyd’s murder was taken as a symptom of a deeply rooted racism against black people. While US laws do not overtly tolerate racism, racism continues to exist within the institutions according to many who live in the US including George W. Bush.
Now, we don’t have a corrupt law to reform, but institutions. People form institutions. In other words, we are dealing with corrupt people. Not knowing how to fix this, many left their homes protesting. On many occasions, protests became violent riots and vents for destructive anger.
In all of this lies a specific challenge to Christians. For Christians who are “not oppressed” who do not participate in these protests might be viewed as cowards, indifferent, or corrupt; those who participate might be caught in the spirit of anger and violence and be perceived as lacking compassion, or worse, “riding the wave”. Christians who are oppressed want the change but reluctant to be associated with violent riots. Either way, Christians feel uneasy.
While we should do our best to advocate social justice, stopping there would not reflect true Christianity. Falling short of advocating for it does not reflect Christianity either. Thus, the question becomes, how do we, as Christian individuals, show compassion without compromising justice and vice-versa?
The Paradox
“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, don't resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also (Matthew 5:38).
Jesus seems to place justice and mercy in opposition to one another. Many Christians use this verse to justify a more passive stance towards violence and injustice. This is particularly evident when you read the ongoing discussions between those who would argue for a just war and those who dismiss the validity of any form of violence as a way of achieving justice against evil. Even though we are not speaking about the legitimacy of wars here, the debate remains applicable. Do we take a pacifist stance, or do we resist corruption even if it leads to or uses violence, property damage, human injury, and innocent lives?
The difficulty is much clearer when we read the definition of mercy; for it entails not delivering a just penalty or punishment by someone who has the power and authority to do so; it is the“ forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation when one has the power to inflict it.”[1] We also see this form of mercy manifested in the parable of the Two Debtors (See Matthew 18: 21-35). In this parable, a man who is in an astronomical amount of financial debt is excused from being enslaved. The king who forgave the indebted “was filled with pity” (Matthew 18: 27). Pity is a synonym for mercy.
In the verses to follow, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don't even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:43-48).
A few things here to point out. First, God’s mercy seems to override His justice when He showers His acts of providence on both the righteous and the unrighteous. Second, it seems that despite such imbalance, Jesus describes this kind of mercy as perfection. Third, Jesus also seems to be changing the Old Testament law, Lex Talionis law (See Exodus 21:23-25). Finally, to my surprise, Jesus’s response does NOT aim at changing the “other”, “the oppressor” but the one who is oppressed!
In short, we are before a BIG paradox.
Defining The Terms Part of resolving a paradox is to check the definitions of the words used. One word could have multiple meanings.
What is perfection?
According to William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, perfection “has nothing to do with what we might call abstract, philosophical, metaphysical perfection… A thing is perfect if it fully realizes the purpose for which it was planned, and designed, and made. In point of fact, that meaning is involved in the derivation of the word. Teleios is the adjective formed from the noun telos. Telos means an end, a purpose, an aim, a goal.”[2]
And, what exactly is the function of mercy in this situation?
Barclay continues that “a man will be teleios if he fulfills the purpose for which he was created… Man was created to be like God The characteristic of God is this universal benevolence, this unconquerable goodwill, this constant seeking of the highest good of every man. The great characteristic of God is love to saint and to sinner alike. No matter what men do to him, God seeks nothing but their highest good… he one thing which makes us like God is the love which never ceases to care for men, no matter what men do to it. We realize our manhood, we enter upon Christian perfection, when we learn to forgive as God forgives, and to love as God loves.”
That’s a lot to digest. So, let’s unpack it.
Barclay is arguing that perfection in this passage is derived from the Greek word, “telos.” God created us to reflect His image; that’s is our original design. To reflect His image entails a volitional self- restriction from inflicting a just punishment, not as an act of corruption or compromise, but as an act of restoration to the wrongdoer. In other words, God places a higher value on showing mercy when this results in the fulfilment of our original design in reflecting God’s restorative mercy. It is like not disclosing the truth to the German soldiers to save the Jews you are trying to hide. Saving the life is placed at a higher moral value than saying the truth. Answering Objections But, why does God seem to change His law and attitude towards justice and mercy? It seems at the first glance that the Old Testament is harsher and places justice at a much higher value than mercy considering His citation of the Lex Talionis law three times. It also seems that God was continuously judging people and nations.
However, first, there are many verses calling for mercy in general and mercy towards enemies in the Old Testament (see proverbs 25:21 and 24:29 and Lamentations 3:30). Second, we see God showing and favoring mercy over justice on Nineveh after they repented and withholding His just judgement. Third, strong criminal laws mainly served sin management purposes. Sinners sin. When sinners are placed together within the institution, they continue to sin. That is what we do. Institutions become corrupt. A protest may reform laws but will not purge sinners. Therefore, to deter evil, God placed strong criminal laws. Accordingly, Judgement Day is at the end of days. It is stored for those who have rejected mercy and wanted to face judgment. That day, justice will be surely served.
Yet, you may wonder if the use of this law was strictly for legal and sin management purposes, why does Jesus use it here in the context of personal relationships?
I guess that Jesus wanted to point out the attitude of vengeance in our hearts that tends to disguise itself as the voice of justice. And, vengeance is never concerned with the highest good of the insulting individual; it is concerned with satisfying our egoism and pride and quenching our anger. So, whenever you feel the urge to retaliate in anger and violence against injustice and oppression, search your heart for a desire to take revenge. Finally, Jesus knew that this kind of willful and intentional love can only be achieved by restoring the inner man to his original design. So, he pointed out that this kind of mercy is how human relationships should have been in the first place. The Lex Talionis law was used as a temporary band-aid to manage the injustices committed in our dealings with one another, just like divorce. Legalizing divorce, however, does not restore the original design of marriage.
If I have not lost you by now, which would be nothing short of a miracle, how then could our inner-man be restored to manifest the original design of mercy?
First, you must count the cost and decide if you are willing to sacrifice. That’s the cost of the Christian love.
Second, reflect on these verses, “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7)
and
“Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up (2 Corinthians 4:1).
These two verses reveal the self- feeding cycle leading to the desired transformation. We were first shown mercy. The more we are aware of our debt, the more we become aware of how much we were forgiven, the more love we have for God and the more desire we have to be like Him. The more we seek to be like him, the more we become like Him. We will show more mercy in our ministry to others. It is an intentional pursuit of transformation that is empowered by God’s love and grace.
This is just not feasible. How then shall we apply this in life?
No doubt, I have not entirely resolved this paradox. There is not a fixed formula that applies to all situations. Reflecting God’s image also entails being wise. Wisdom is about the proper use and application of what we know in an everyday situation.
But, here is a biblical example of David showing pity or mercy towards his enemy, Saul. David was intentionally oppressed by Saul. Saul chased David and attempted to kill him many times in different ways. One time, David had the opportunity to kill Saul. Even his men told David, “Look, this is the day the Lord told you about: 'I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire" (1 Samuel 24:4). David not only had the chance to kill Saul, he had the right to kill Saul, but he did not. Why?
Perhaps, we can find some answers in the following verse. David told Saul, “You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave. [Someone] advised [me] to kill you, but I took pity on you” (1 Samuel 24:10). David took pity on Saul. He did this twice (1 Samuel 26). He preserved Saul’s life. Saul said, “I have sinned... I have been a fool. I have committed a grave error” I don’t know how genuine Saul was, but I do know that killing Saul was never going to lead him to repentance.
Placed in David’s shoes, how would you have applied mercy?
Conclusion
Christians have a higher ethic to live by; I am not referring to better laws replacing obsolete ones. I am referring to a heart that has been shown mercy and is, thus, capable of showing and ministering to others God’s kindness and love by voluntarily giving up a right. The ultimate goal of such sacrifice is the restoration of the lost soul, leading such soul to repentance. This is the highest good that one could seek to help others enjoy.
In short, if we are oppressed, we seek God’s mercy to flood our heart that we might be channels for His mercy towards those who wrong us. The cost is high; the call is hard and practically impossible without heavenly aid. Those who are not oppressed must support by resisting the evil in themselves first before judging others and by embracing those who are oppressed in their trial lest they fall in the trap of vengeance and bitterness.
May God give us wisdom and love to reflect His holy and perfect image.
[1] https://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/Mercy
[2]William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, Matthew 5, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/matthew-5.html