Mercy- Emotional incarnation

Romans 12:7-9 and weep with those who weep...

We have all of these other gifts in the body- where we need to end this list is the capacity to feel-

not just to know, not just to change or serve, but to feel. So god gave the church Mercy people. They are the ones who are in touch with the feelings of infirmity and joy.

The mercy people are the ones who incarnate and inhabit the world of others.

John’s use of Love

1 John 1:13

Strengths and Weaknesses

S- Deeply loyal, loyalty is a cardinal virtue of M. They are always ready to come to the defense of people they have an empathetic realtionship with- Luke 9:52-54

Luke 9:52–54 KJV 1900

And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

W- Taking up offenses is one of the most likely downfalls of the M. Quick to call fire. Feel this for their friends regardless of their involvement in the situation.

Also always chooses the underdog regardless of what is involved.

Wisdom would teach M to involve a P to diagnose what sins or untruths are involved in the situation and E to figure out how to change outcomes.

S- builds and develops very deep friendships

Requires close friendships, but wants mutual commitment. Not usually friends with hundreds of people. Want a small close intimate circle. John “the disciple whom Jesus loved”: was one of the closest intimates of Jesus.

W- Can become cliquish or demanding. Wants to be your only friend or can have only one close friend at a time. This may play out in a carnal M by putting people on a pedestal and then tearing them down when they get close to a new person. Only one spot available on the pedestal.

S- Empathy with hurting people:

-Senses and shares with peoples pain. But also capable of the full range of emotions- John 1 to give Joy, Fellowship, Hope, and Confidence and to cast out Fear and Torment.

W- can be willing to tolerate sin in sympathy of relationship. Especially people they feel are wounded or vulnerable can receive a pass on the issues in their life that are wrong.

S-Sensitive to how people perceive others and situations. This can lead to indecisiveness if not shaped by understanding priorities and concrete principles. John is both bold and decisive throughout Acts 4:13

Acts 4:13 KJV 1900

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

W- this makes them not good at authority positions because they are very conflict averse and find it very hard to say things that are painful to others even when it is important or necessary for the person being admonished or reproved.

S- highly empathetic people are very sensitive to genuine care and love. They tend to be hurt and carry a lot of stories of betrayal because of this sensitivity. W-What some would overlook as an inconsistency M will see and dwell on the lack of genuine love that happens in interpersonal relationships.

S-Attracts people who are in distress. M is a magnet for hurting people. The world has a drastic shortage of people who care about others. This makes the M very attractive to people who are hurting and wounded and embittered and offended. (David was not likely a M but he did display this quality in his mighty men- collected all who were distressed and indebted and discontented 1 Samuel 22:2

1 Samuel 22:2 KJV 1900

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

W- across the sexes this can be misconstrued as flirtation or overly friendly without a good sense of propriety.

S-Desires to remove hurts. Ex will try to help a person find the cause and grow from hurt, a M would much rather remove the pain or the cause of the pain in peoples lives. 1 John 3:11, 15

1 John 3:15 KJV 1900

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

W- It can be hard for M to realize that pain can have a redemptive purpose and they can even struggle with hard teachings of God or the fact that pain can be used redemptively by God. Can under certain circumstances become bitter with God because of evil in the world or reject or minimize teachings and doctrines that create pain in peoples lives.

S- Closeness, physical and otherwise is very important to M. They not only feel emotionally the people around them but they want to be in proximity with the people that matter to them. Not long distance relationship people, generally. John is found reclining on Jesus breast at the last supper, and his desire from proximity likely lead to this exchange: Mark 10:35-37

Mark 10:35–37 KJV 1900

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

S- Often we find M drawn to P. It is usually more this way than P drawn to M. P is too aloof and one track to sense a need for balance and perspective. This relationship can yield incredible fruit and we find that two of the closest apostles are the archetype for P and M- Peter and John.

W- Can be sharp and quick to cut off people they discern to be in the mean category. Are more prone to dismiss people who they find insensitive than to work through pointing out and instructing people how not to be insensitive. Because this disposition is intrinsic to them they often expect everyone to have the same innate sensitivities.