There is a popular motivational quote “No Mercy; No Fear” that is applied in hard situations like war. Situations where it is time to act and ignore the consequences to those around you. Not surprisingly the Bible demands another approach. Instead of no mercy no fear what if Christians applied show mercy show fear? In Jude the book opens with a warning about shepherds of selfishness and then concludes with what faithful followers of Christ should do about them. The answer is mercy. Mercy is not the word I want but that is Jude’s answer. We who are Christians are to show mercy and specifically mercy with fear.
And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23 ESV
Mercy is a Verb
What does it mean to show mercy with fear? The King James Version says that we are to save with fear. So as part of the deep dive today we are going to look at the verb mercy which calls the Christian to action and understand better what Jude the brother of James is expecting in his call to save others.
Mercy on the Doubter
There are two types of people that Jude is calling Christians to have mercy with fear upon. The first type is those who doubt. “And have mercy on those who doubt.” Have some compassion you who are saved on those who are wavering. Mercy and compassion require that we stop being self-absorbed and listen to those around us.
Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Jesus gives us an example of the expectation in the parable of the unforgiving servant.
So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? Matthew 18:29-33 ESV
The person in a position of power who had been saved in the past is now unwilling to grant the same mercy to the next person in his path. This person is self absorbed and showing no mercy no fear. Have compassion on the next man. He will come before you with doubt and questioning. Do you leave him stranded out at sea or do you act and show mercy with fear?
Understanding Fear
We have not addressed fear in the equation but you can see that at the rebuke from the king this servant in the parable is rightly in fear. Don’t wait for a rebuke from God. Jump at the opportunity with a reverent fear of God.
Mercy on the Train Wreck
The second type of person who needs salvation is not someone ready to be reasonable. Acting on mercy and fear may require direct physical intervention in a man’s life. He needs to be stopped from destroying himself. Jude writes “save others by snatching them out of the fire.” Saving someone out of a fire is dangerous work. But mercy with fear requires that we take risks to our own safety.
Jesus Takes on the Worst
It is not fun. It can be messy. But we know interventions can work. There is a time and place for them. If God puts you into a place where an intervention is possible then it might be time to act on that mercy with fear. Do you want involvement with someone who is self-destructing? I know I don’t but what does Jesus want?
And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. Matthew 17:14-15 ESV
Doubters and the Out of Control
To recap there are two types of people Jude is calling us to help. No mercy no fear is not God’s expectation for either those in doubt or those who need physical restraint. Show mercy with fear on the lives of those in your path.
Reasonable Answers from a Reasonable Person
The doubter needs a reasoned answer from a reasonable person. This requires that you dear reader spend time in God’s word. Spend time in prayer getting to know the mind of God. Prepare now for the future encounter. Conspiracy and because the Bible said so are no answers for the one in doubt. The doubter needs to hear from a Godly man or woman who knows the word and is ready. Be in discipleship.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 ESV
Hard Consequences in Love
The man on self-destruction mode who needs salvation from the fire is right in front of us. If you find a man who needs to be stopped in his tracks. No amount of reasoning will stop this person. No mercy is the worlds answer. Let him cook because along with no mercy there is no fear of God in the world’s heart. We who love God however have mercy with fear. This is where the idea love the sinner hate the sin comes into play. It will be hard and each situation may have painful harsh consequence’s. Maybe that person needs to be in jail. An intervention by loved ones and sent to rehab. Worst of all maybe just maybe they need to excommunication from the church. Hard options but we must show them mercy mixed with the fear of God for their soul.
you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 5:5 ESV
You can read more about Jude’s emphasis on Mercy here: Waiting on God for Mercy
