Mercy, Part 1: Moving The Needle… Again

Live from Salt Lake City, Utah

This is Heart of the Matter Full Circle, and I’m your host, Shawn McCraney.

Show 26: Merciless Cultural Views Maintained in the Faith Today

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And remember, we are holding our first annual Christian Peace Initiative on Friday, November 8th, and Saturday, November 9th. If you’re in town and want to attend in the live audience, let me know via email: Shawn@thegreatnewsnetwork.com

Opening Thoughts on Culture

Some of you are aware of my personal disdain for culture. I think it’s important to clarify this so you understand my stance. First, I love aspects of culture that produce life-enhancing elements—dances, foods, costumes, celebrations, sports. These are like seasonings, adding flavor to life.

Where I begin to distance myself from culture is when the following things start to emerge:

• When members of any particular culture—be it national, political, racial, generational, or religious—become proud of their identity and see themselves as superior to others.

In my view, there’s no reason to be proud of inherited traits like nationality, gender, or physical appearance. It’s just part of what we inherited as humans. I dream of a world where cultural allegiances fade, where people move beyond superficial pride in identity.

Culture and Individual Potential

I also see culture as sometimes blunting individual potential. People often dive headlong into identities crafted by culture—be it through joining the military, becoming sports fanatics, or immersing themselves in lifestyle cultures. Many people, instead of carving their own paths, merely reflect the culture they adopt.

Leading to my main point, I want to move beyond typical cultural issues and discuss what I see as cultural malignancies—demands and identities that function like a cancer against individuality and a full, authentic existence.

Cultural Demands in Organized Religion

The most malignant cultural demands are often found in one segment of society—organized religion. If I were to summarize what God wants most, it would be that His creations see Him as supreme, worthy of all adoration and allegiance. This is why YAHAVAH reminded Israel to have no other elohiyms before Him.

In organized religion, cultural demands become so dominant that they actually become a form of idolatry. When denominational demands override personal beliefs and free-will choices led by the Spirit, it places man-made demands above God’s direct guidance.

The Trap of Religious Cultural Demands

Organized religion inevitably creates its own culture—a blend of doctrines, beliefs, practices, devotions, political leanings, and more. These cultural demands can mislead believers, taking precedence over a genuine, personal relationship with God. Take anyone led by the Spirit to seek God, and if they also seek to please men, they may end up placing denominational demands on par with, or even above, God’s guidance.

For those desiring community, belonging, or praise, organized religion offers a host of options. But unfortunately, many religious groups insist on manufacturing and imposing their own cultural demands, which overshadow God’s personal direction.

A Personal Shift in Perspective

Last week, I encountered a cultural mindset within myself that I maintained without even realizing it. After reflecting deeply on my heart, established views, and the reasons behind them, I changed. This change led me to realize a need for mercy and compassion within the culture of American Evangelicalism.

Mercy is the compassionate treatment of those in distress, especially when it’s within one’s power to punish, judge, or harm them.

Mercy and compassion are closely linked; mercy is the fruit of compassion. Genuine mercy is a gift that’s bestowed freely, aiming to alleviate suffering. And it was only last week that I recognized my own hardened indifference toward suffering.

From Indifference to Mercy and Compassion

My former attitude was one of mindless indifference toward suffering. Over the years, I believed that people deserved to face the consequences of their actions—pregnant teens should raise their babies, the sick should endure their pain, and the homeless should suffer for poor decisions. This was my worldview, reinforced by my religious upbringing and personal experiences.

Yet, last week, I shifted profoundly in my understanding of mercy and compassion. Now, I see that compassionate mercy should extend to everyone, not just a select few.

“When compassion acts to alleviate suffering, it becomes mercy.”

Compassion is the feeling; mercy is the action. God demonstrated this mercy by giving His Son, and in Psalm 51:1, David cries:

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”

Mercy goes beyond forgiveness—it involves healing, comfort, and caring for those in distress. The culture I once knew emphasized justice over mercy, but the Spirit has shown me that justice has been fully met, and now the call is for mercy and compassion.

A New Way of Seeing Sanctity of Life

This perspective led me to question the concept of the sanctity of life. If God removed Adam and Eve from the garden to spare them an eternity in a fallen state, was this not an act of mercy? Yet, today, Christians often strive to extend life at all costs, sometimes without regard for suffering. I also question our approach to issues like capital punishment, abortion, and poverty—are we truly consistent in our respect for life?

Christian culture has, in many cases, fostered a mindset that is merciless, inconsistent, and unreflective of the compassion and mercy scripture teaches. How can we justify surrounding ourselves with luxury while millions live in poverty, when true compassion would call us to share and alleviate suffering?

Mercy and Compassion in Action

I now believe that followers of Christ should be known for our mercy as much as our humility, faith, and love. We must be compassionate and merciful in every sphere of society.

• When facing criminals – choose mercy.
• End-of-life decisions – act mercifully.
• Unwanted pregnancies, poverty, drug addiction, mental illness – mercy, mercy, mercy.

Let’s use our resources to support the impoverished, the suffering, and the uneducated. It’s time to act compassionately and mercifully in all things.

This approach could lead to:

• Better health and nutrition
• Improved end-of-life protocols
• A more compassionate approach to abortion
• Enhanced educational and vocational support
• More safety and protection for the defenseless
• Greater socio-emotional development

In doing so, we’ll embody what Yeshua plainly stated:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Thank you for joining us, and we’ll see you next week here on Heart of the Matter.