Contemplative Bible Reading

Jude 1:22-23 (New Living Translation)

22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 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.

Jude writes an open letter to all Christians and others, too. Sort of like a blog from way back then.

Show mercy. Rescue others. Can’t argue with those two things.

And with it comes: do so with great caution. Hate the sins that contaminate the lives of these others. Okay, show mercy to others while hating sinful acts. Much of my life I have heard this paraphrased as, “Love the sinner; hate the sin.” And much of that time I have heard people say, “Sinners hear this as, ‘hate the sin and hate the sinner, too.'”

Sigh. The best of intentions with bumbling actions. That’s me. Bumble along with good intentions and harm others. Come on. I can do better. I should be close enough to people who have sinful actions so that I can show them mercy. At the same time, I shouldn’t take on their sinful acts (I’ll show mercy by getting drunk and carousing about with you—NOPE). Who is influencing whom? More cliches and such I’ve hear much of my life. Shall I live by the cliches or by the words of Jude the ancient blogger?

Please God, help me in my unbelief.