"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
Jesus seems to be saying that it is important to show mercy because you are definitely going to need it one day. But mercy doesn't seem to be very popular right now. We live in the spin zone, where everyone tries to impress everyone else. I find this especially true in the coporate world, and sadly, in the church world too. If you want a job in a falling economy, you are competing with thousands if not tens of thousands of others. The pressure to appear super-human or perhaps even as a demi-god of organizational genius is tremendous. If you have the slightest flaw, well, we can find someone apparently flawless. And don't even think about putting anything honest or personal on facebook or twitter; the corporate world is watching. Talk about living in glass houses.
A near cousin of corporate perfection is christian perfection. For heaven's sake, don't let anyone see your flaws, especially if you are a pastor or church leader! Don't let people get too close, or the cracks will show. Hire only the best qualified, Christ-like saints available. At the slightest whiff of carnality or humanity, call the next candidate. Once hired, If they disappoint or reach their potential prematurely, let them go. We can't waste time fooling with second-string workers, the harvest is plentiful now. Oh yes, the church can be just as merciless as the cubicle.
But if you look at Jesus discipling a band of tax collectors, fishermen and blue-collar workers to be his leaders, it makes an amazing contrast. Look as Jesus patiently takes a towel and washes the disciples' feet after they argued over "who is the greatest." Look at them failing Jesus in the hour of his greatest need at Gethsemane, yet they go on to lead his church. See Jesus as he gently restores Peter to productive ministry after his denial. When Jesus made disciples, it was merciful, time-consuming, grossly inefficient and messy. And I thank God for mentors who like Jesus and had enough mercy to deal with my mess too. Somehow they understood that people are more important to the kingdom than the church's vision statement.
I believe that when God's people create an atmosphere of mercy in his church, it presents one of the most beautiful and inviting witnesses of the gospel on the planet. And it brings God's kingdom to earth like nothing else. The world is starving for mercy. Let's share it!
