Contemplative Bible Reading

Jude verse 23 (New Living Translation)

Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Interesting balancing act here. Then again, life is made interesting by these occasions when we walk along the top of a barbed wire fence.

Jude encourages us to show mercy, but with caution. Our mercy—often accepting of the situation of others—must be balanced with a hatred of the sins that bring the need for mercy.

For a recent example, I should show mercy to the Muslim immigrant to the US, but I must hate the sin of murder that comes with some who claim to be Muslim. I should show mercy to the prostitute, but I must hate sexual sins.

Here is another caution:

hate the sin in a way that does not even slightly hint that I hate the sinner.

That is a tough one, and for that I ask God for much help.