Encounter: Mercy

Introduction:

Good morning everyone. So great to be hear with you this week. It is good to have the opportunity to connect together and share with you.

A number of you have asked about us settling in and we have and we are doing well. We have appreciated your prayers. Please pray for us.

James 2:1–9 ESV

1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

James 2:13 NIV

13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

John 4:1–10 NIV

1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

John 4:25–26 NIV

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

Today we will wrap up the encounter series by looking at encountering God’s Mercy.

Will you pray with me?

Me

I’ve been watching the news like all of you these past few weeks; this cycle of anti-Black racism beginning with the death of George Floyd. Scenes of protest, and then scences of violence and rioting. I have found it overwhelming at times because of the truth all of these exposes. Racism still exists and anti-Black racism in particular.

Sometimes the truth is hard to beleive because of what we see on the surface. When we haven’t walk with someone below the surface to understand their experiences.

As Christians we have a responsibility to seek the Truth - Jesus said the truth will set you free.

As I spoke with friens of mine who are Black; some in our church family at Faith I was reminded of the disparity between their experiences of anti-Black racism and the general understanding of their experience by the rest of us.

For me, I have experienced Racism but it doesn’t compare to what I have heard from my friends in the black community. Anti-Black racism is real and prevalent.

We must recognize, as a church family while we can agree Racism is wrong and in particular anti-Black racism, we all have different points of reference on the topic.

We

We all have different points of reference and experience and that is why it is critical to come back to the Gospel as our starting point. We must orient ourselves around Jesus because while the issues may change and evolve, the foundation of truth does not ---Discrimination in all forms is wrong. Period. Anti-Black Racism is wrong.

Dr Tony Evans a widely respected African American scholar and pastor, speaks about the importance of the language we use when describing, and viewing ourselves.

He argues that it is technically wrong to identy oneself as in my case a second generation Indian Canadian Christian, or a Black Christian, or to think of ones self in those terms or others — Prosperous Christian, white christian etc. It is not helpful to do that

But to put Christian in the adjective position — I’m a Christian who is Canadian, who is brown, who is… Christian Canadian. Country and culture come after our Christianity.

This is because our humanity is who God made us (The Noun) , and He changes us.

our country and colour out attributes must conform to the Gospel, the Bible, to God (Adjective) —That is our Christianity.

I’m a Christian Canadian----The overarching banner of my life is Christian --- when we work it the other way, I’m a Candian Christian ---then the Canadian culture — becomes the overarching principal…

It is critical that we get this right .. Otherwise when pressures from society come we will be trying to adjust our faith and Christianity and that doesn’t change.

So that if anything must be adjusted it is the noun of our humanity and not the adjective of our faith.

That is the challenge we faces in the Body of Christ — we too often are living in reverse; we live as if who we are, our experiences, our preferences, shape our Christianity. This leads to all kinds of problems including subtel and over racism; particularily anti-black racism.

Adjectives adjust nouns — so in erro our culture and our country adjust our christianity.

Things don’t work like that. We end up unsure how to respond when there is a clear way that Christ calls us to response.

So today together let’s remind ourselve that being Christian comes first — our Chrsitianity shapes the rest of me, and so it is imperative that we understand, again, what the Bible says about Racism

How? our affluence, our colour, our culture, slowly becomes attached to “our” Christianity. We begin to equate these things together (Deal with this in a seperatevideo or post)

God

Christianity & racism cannot coexist (James 2:1)

1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

James 2:1 NLT

1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

The language here is clear and strong. And if we accept any discrimination without keeping it in check and examining our hearts and repenting we will end up in bad positions. James 1:15 SIN, when fully grown leads to death. It is progressive.

Christianity exists because of selfless love

Matthew 22:37

Matthew 22:37–40 ESV

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Christianity is about mercy, racism is about judgement.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

13 For njudgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:13 NIV

13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Jesus took the judgement all that should remain is mercy

You

Jesus went to Samaria.

John 4:4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

RACIAL PREDJUDICE - Samaritans were referred to as half breeds because they existed because the Jews married across racial lines — and they were hated even more than Gentiles. In fact they were referred to as dogs by the Jews.

About noon — hottest time of day — woman comes along…perhaps not wanting to draw attention to herself? Likely because she was ostracized by her own people because of promiscuity.

He went… to speak to this women.

Do we avoid going through Sarmaria? Do we avoid finding common ground at Jacob’s Well.

Jesus did not hesitate to identify with the Samaritan woman.

John 4:7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) (Or do not use dishes that Samaritans have used)You are a Jew

Willing to drink from the same cup

This is all about identifying with her. People can get funny about dishes My Sister-in-law. Won’t let her daughter drink from the same cup. I was like this is strange to me; this is your daughter — this was before covid lol, there were no government restrictions.

My son—look out if there is a glass around and he’s thirsty he’s going for it, because he identify’s with us, he is part of the family so it is natural for him to grab and drink. Here Jesus doesn’t Hesitate to do the same.

We must identfy with people across racial lines, and accept their experience…their story and associate with them. Stand alongside, to let them lead but drink from the same cup. Relate this to today.

Do we hesitate to identify with people of colour? With people who are black? Do we hesitate with poor etc? Do we hesitate to identify with people from another country?

Jesus shared His best.

John 4:10 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

John 4:26 NLT

Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”

Jesus has not yet revealed he is the messiah. He could have revealed this to Nicademus in the chapter before.

But rather than the wealthy Jew, with intention he brings this message across racial, economic, sin, gender lines....

Jesus was Willing to share the best of what he had--- I am the Messiah.

Are we willing to share the best of what we have? Or do we hold onto it for ourselves, or for people we prefer?

we ahve to ask the tough questions

US

As we begin to wind up this talk we come full circle and come back to James..

James 2:13 NIV

13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

God shows mercy to us, we in turn must show mercy to others.

Judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. We must lead with mercy.

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Maybe you have committed the sin of partiality — discriminating in some way.

Perhaps you hesitate to give your best to someone who is different than you

Perhaps you were brought up to think differently about those who are of a different colour

a different country

a different race

Parents perhaps you have discouraged your children from associating with certain types of people.

Today God is offering you mercy, not judgement. Reconiliation can only happen when in our lives mercy triumphs over judgement.