Mercy before Judgment

Mercy before Judgment December 8, 2015 Vatican City (AFP) - Uttering a centuries-old command, Pope Francis on Tuesday opened a "Holy Door" of St Peter's basilica to kick off an extraordinary Jubilee year, while urging his Church to reach out to the modern world. "This is the door of the Lord. Open to me the gates of justice," the Argentinian pontiff said before being helped up three marble steps to push the giant bronze doors open. In a break with tradition that reflected Francis's modernising instincts, the order to open the doors was delivered in Italian rather than Latin. The 78-year-old then paused on the threshold of the Renaissance basilica for two minutes of silent prayer before walking inside in an act to be carried out by millions of pilgrims before the Jubilee - a special year of remission of sins and universal pardon - closes next November. Francis was followed gingerly through the door by his frail predecessor, the now-retired Benedict XVI, 88, and by hundreds of cardinals, bishops and male and female members of religious orders. Clutching a walking stick in his right hand and looking extremely pale, Benedict was helped into

the basilica on the arm of his assistant Georg Ganswein. Amid heightened security following recent terror attacks around the world, the Vatican said 70,000 pilgrims had packed into St Peter's Square and surrounding streets to watch Francis open the usually bricked-up portal of the Renaissance basilica. Many had tears rolling down their cheeks or eyes clenched shut in prayer as Francis ordered the door open for the first time since the last Jubilee, in 2000. Among them were Polish friends Teresa and Carolina, who were back in Rome after coming for John Paul II's Jubilee 15 years ago. "What will I change to mark the Jubilee? I think I'll give some change to a homeless beggar that I usually ignore," confided Teresa. Francis used his homily to underline the significance of his decision to start the Jubilee on the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second Vatican Council, a gathering of bishops credited with a modernisation of the Church that Francis is attempting to emulate. Tuesday also marked the 1,000th day of Francis' pontificate. For Francis's predecessor, the German-born Joseph Ratzinger, Tuesday's ceremony was a rare public outing. The Emeritus Pope, as he is officially known, has lived in seclusion within the Vatican since retiring in 2013 as failing health left him incapable of running an institution beset by the clerical sex abuse scandal and internecine bickering in its upper echelons.

Tuesday's celebrations were rounded off in the evening when images by some of the world's greatest environmental photographers including Brazil's Sebastiao Salgado and Yann Arthus- Bertrand of France were projected onto the facade and dome of Saint Peter's. The giant, moving photos depicting environmental issues such as endangered species, desertification and overconsumption were an initiative linked to the ongoing COP21 global climate conference in Paris. - Mercy not judgement - Francis called the Jubilee, which runs until November 20, 2016, with the express goal of changing the way the Church is perceived by the faithful, lapsed believers and the rest of the world. "How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we speak of sins being punished by his judgement before we speak of their being forgiven by his mercy," he said Tuesday. "We have to put mercy before judgement... Let us set aside all fear and dread, for these do not befit men and women who are loved." In a surprise move reflecting that aim, Francis announced in September that for the duration of the Jubilee, priests would be given special dispensation to absolve women who have had abortions. In addition, some 800 priests around the world are to be designated "missionaries of mercy" tasked with encouraging higher levels of confession amongst believers. Those involved have been selected for their ability to preach well, understand human frailty and ensure that the confessional is not experienced "like a torture chamber" as the pope has put it. Francis's push for a less judgmental, more understanding Church has encountered fierce resistance from traditionalists opposed to any relaxation of teaching on hot-button subjects such as homosexuality, divorce and unmarried cohabitation.traditionally, Catholics were expected to make a pilgrimage to Rome to benefit from the indulgences on offer to the faithful who pass through the Holy Doors during Jubilee years. Francis has effectively done away with this custom by ordering cathedrals around the world to open their own Holy Doors. That will happen on Sunday, when Francis himself opens the door at one of Rome's major churches, St John Lateran. Rebuttal by Pastor Kit Potter: He is the former pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church in lower northern Michigan. Now teaches at Zion Baptist Church in Traverse City Michigan. I want to take a moment to compare the Popes statement we have to put mercy before judgment to what the bible says on this subject. I know that it is easier to speak on and about subjects like love,

peace, joy, compassion and mercy which makes us feel good about ourselves and others but the Scriptures (the final authority of God s Word) deals with other things as well. What is important to remember is the other things are just as important. Jesus speaking to the religious leaders of His day said this, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe and mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the others undone. (Matt. 23:23). I want to bring your attention to the order in which Jesus speaks of the weightier matters and why the order is important. The Pope reversed the order of judgment and mercy which is no small matter and here is why. The Bible is all about God s expectation of man. We know that in the beginning the world that God created was perfect. Adam and Eve were created in the image of God and placed in the Garden and it was perfect. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the fruit of the tree of good and evil everything changed. Man, left to his own devices became so evil that God had to destroy man by the flood. You would think that man would of have changed his way of thinking but not so. Once again we find man doing that which was right in his own eyes. History is filled with peoples and nations that turned their back on God and worshiped the creature (creation) more than the Creator. Moses comes on the scene and is now inspired by God to give to Israel His chosen people the Law of God. The Law of God had a purpose. Paul speaking in 1Timothy 1:9, 10 says this Knowing this, that the Law is not made for a righteous man, but for the Lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. The Law of God purpose is to show that we cannot control ourselves no matter how hard we try. We can t keep man s law or God s Law. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23). Romans 3:19, 20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Romans 7:13 that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 1John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. James 2:9, 10 ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. The purpose of the Law of God is to show us how desperately wicked we really are. First comes the Law of God, then comes judgment. A civil society has laws and there is a punishment for not obeying the law. In some cases a fine is imposed. In another a prison term is imposed. For another the death penalty. The Law has no power to control some ones actions unless there is punishment for breaking it. In Numbers 15:32 36 there is recorded for us a man who went out and gathered sticks to make a fire on the Sabbath day and was caught and jailed. God s judgment upon him was that he must die so he was taken outside the camp and stoned. Here is that part of Scripture. And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the

congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. Hebrews 10:28 says He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. One might think that it was too harsh of a punishment for picking up sticks. Paul says in Romans 6:23 for the wages of sin is death. Though we may think the judgment is too harsh, it is God s warning of the judgment to come that sets the stage for God s love and mercy toward us. First, the Law of God, then Judgment, then God s mercy. The bible declares the Mercy of God from Genesis to Revelation. Jeremiah declares in Lamentations 3:22 It is of the Lord s mercy that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Paul wrote in Titus 3:5 but by his mercy he saved us. Without judgment there can be no mercy. There must be a crime committed and a judgment or punishment imposed upon the criminal in order to have mercy extended to him by a judge in a court of law. Again in Titus 3:5 says this Not by works of righteousness we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. It might be politically correct and compassionate to say I will show mercy to someone before I show them God s judgment upon a particular action of activity but the Final Authority of God s Word reveals to us something else. It is Judgment before Mercy. First, the Law of God, then Judgment, then Mercy, finally faith. Faith is mentioned last by Jesus in Matt. 23:23 because it takes faith in God to know that He will forgive a person for breaking His law and will not be punished. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. The very next verse says this Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with FEAR, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. What was it that Noah feared? Noah feared the judgment of God and that judgment was going to be in the form of a worldwide flood. So Noah labored for 120 years to construct the ark. Mankind had gotten so wicked that God could no longer do anything other than bring judgment down upon them but God s mercy was extended to eight souls. Here is that part of Scripture of Noah. Genesis 6:11 7:1-24 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his

female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days. Sodom and Gomora had become so corrupt and wicked that God brought judgment upon those cities. Yet God s mercy was extended to Lot s family. Here is that part of Scripture. Genesis 19:15-25 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities,

and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. In Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of ourselves: it is a gift of God. Nowhere in Scripture does God ever put mercy before judgment except when someone realizes their guilt under the Law of God and the judgment to come then seeks God s mercy and forgiveness by faith. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Even though we are guilty under the law and deserve God s judgment, God has provided a way out because He still loves us. Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood there so we can be saved from the judgment to come. The bible is quite clear in John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God. There is nothing a person needs to do to end up in hell for a Christ less eternity. To end up in heaven for a Christ filled eternity is too; 1.) Recognize you re a sinner and guilty under the Law of God. 2.) Realize hell is your destination because that is God s judgment upon a sinner. 3.) That God s mercy is extended to you through Christ Jesus. 4.) By faith trust Jesus Christ to save you from your sins. You see the Pope got this one way wrong.