Three important questions about Showing Mercy:

Who is a good example of someone who Shows Mercy?

Let’s take a look at Job 29. Job is making a final defense of his character before his “wise” friends, who’ve been considering all the reasons why he might be suffering. Job says:

For I assisted the poor in their need

    and the orphans who required help.

I helped those without hope, and they blessed me.

    And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.

Everything I did was honest.

    Righteousness covered me like a robe,

    and I wore justice like a turban.

I served as eyes for the blind

    and feet for the lame.

I was a father to the poor

    and assisted strangers who needed help.

I broke the jaws of godless oppressors

    and plucked their victims from their teeth.

Job is choosing to live in proximity to AND on behalf of his marginalized/oppressed neighbors.

Is showing Mercy to others an important part of Christianity?

Let’s examine an Old Testament passage and a New Testament passage.

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,

    and this is what he requires of you:

to do what is right, to love mercy,

    and to walk humbly with your God. 

- Micah 6:8 NLT

This is an Old Testament passage many folks are familiar with. It’s an incredibly compelling, yet simple articulation of the Judeo-Christian faith.

Jesus also gives us a great summary of the Christian faith in Matthew 22:

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Scot McKnight refers to this passage where Jesus creatively amends the sacred Shema Yisrael as the “Jesus Creed”.

But here’s the catch, embracing the simplicity of the Christian faith as described in these passages also means grappling with one of it’s most significant and profound theological concepts: Imago Dei

The words in Micah 6 and Matthew 22 are written with a presumption that humans, all humans, bear the image and likeness of our Creator. Therefore, we each possess unique worth and dignity. It’s with this understanding that we are called, as Christians, to show mercy. Showing mercy requires empathy and compassion, which means we must acknowledge the human dignity in our neighbor.

Can I be like Job?

Not many of us can be like Job as he describes himself in chapter 29. Those are pretty big shoes to fill. BUT there are so many small ways we can practice Showing Mercy. Those small ways add up to big impact!

Here are a few:

-Register to vote!!! Voting in local elections is one of the largest impacts you can have on behalf of your marginalized/disadvantaged neighbor.

-Get involved with Christ City’s Mercy & Justice team. We are a small group of church partners who meet regularly to discuss and take action on topics of Justice & Mercy as it relates to our church body.

-Attend a MICAH Memphis Issues Night. Christ City Church is a partner of MICAH, a local social action association that seeks justice and equity in our city in a variety of ways.

-Volunteer with our weekly soup kitchen. Every Tuesday, Christ City Church holds a soup kitchen for neighbors who need a hot meal. We need three adult volunteers each Tuesday from 5:00-7:00 pm to help with set-up, serving, and clean up. Go to www.christcity.org/serving to get on the volunteer schedule. 

—Jake Wiig

Learn more about Show Mercy.