Christianity is about mercy...it's not always easy... Check out these thoughts from Dale Meyer.
What would you do? You are in Chile or Haiti. The earthquake has devastated your life. You hear the people are looting nearby stores. Do you join in the looting? The commandment says, "Thou shalt not steal." That's clear...But in life and death situations, what would you do?"
Before the construction of the temple, the tabernacle was Israel's most hly place. In the tabernacle were loaveds of bread, the "showbread," and only the priesets were permitted to eat the showbread. Still, David, who was not a priest but was hungry, asked the priest for theh forbidden bread. The priest obliged and David ate the "looted" showbread. (1 Samuel 21:1-7; Matthew 12:1-8)
Jesus used that story to try and show reliegious legalists that love is the supreme command. He quoted Hosea 6:6, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." mercy is doing acts of kindnes for others. It's not looting plasma TVs, as the news reports that some people in Chile are doing. But take a loaf of bread or some water to feed your starving family? I think that's doing mercy. Wrong? Technically, yes, but "love covers over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Moral questions are not always easy. Neither is the life of Christian love.
What are your thougths? What are your reactions? Where is our Christian love providing mercy?
