I’m toying today with a potentially fascinating observation. Allow me to first distinguish between two oft confused virtues: grace and mercy.
Grace means unmerited favor — being given something extra or special that was not earned nor deserved. It is the receiving of something good.
Mercy equates to unwarranted forgiveness — being spared the consequences or judgment that coincide with a particular act or behavior. It is the sparing of something bad.
One is a receiving. One is a sparing.
We seem selective in who we choose to spare… to whom we offer mercy… to whom we quickly forgive the consequences that logically coincide with one’s behavior. For some we quickly, perhaps casually dismiss the appropriate judgment that comes with less than virtuous actions. For others we proclaim, “Nope… no way… never going to happen; they don’t deserve any mercy.” In other words, “Let ‘em have what they deserve!”
Why are we so selective?
What is within us that causes us to be dismissive of some but callous toward others?
Why are we tolerant of immorality, infidelity, deceit, deception, dishonesty, crime, corruption, mistruth, misconduct, bias or bigotry depending on who it comes from?
Why does it not affect our loyalty, attention, or vote — be the one in question an athlete, celebrity, politician, etc.?
I speak not of rendering an actual, physical consequence; we are not the purveyors of any legal judgment. We are, however, the beholders of internal judgment — the discernment that affects our like/dislike, loyalty, gauge of appropriateness, and whether we will wholeheartedly support a person going forward. For some reason, we seem to dismiss the poor behavior and choices we’ve witnessed by some, thus applying selective mercy. Why?
Pick an arena: sports, celebrity, politics. Why are we inconsistent in our mercy giving?
Some of those in question are still playing; some are starring at the box office; some remain running for President. And those some, we are still cheering on, still paying to see their movies, and still intending to vote for.
Let me not act as if mercy should not be offered. I don’t claim to have the divine discernment that knows when it’s wise and when it’s not. I also believe mercy offered can turn around a sinful life. I simply wonder how and why we are so inconsistent… why we turn a blind eye… and what biases we hold (even when we claim to be unbiased).
I will include myself in that assessment of inconsistency. I will also include myself in the need at times for mercy.
I’m wondering if the key is how the person reacts when they have been spared the negative consequences and judgment. Are they humbled? … gracious? Do they acknowledge the wrongdoing and express regret and a desire to change their behavior? Or do they continue in a pattern of deceit, deception, dishonesty, etc.? Do they see mercy as a well-played strategy — fooling the rest of us once more?
As previously stated, this is a potentially fascinating observation.
Respectfully…
AR