July 12: The Royal Law

I have a love/hate relationship with the Law. There have been times in my life when I’ve been on the right side of the law and found it to be my protection, my vindicator, the catalyst for justice. There have been times where I’ve been on the wrong side of the law and found it to be convicting, condemning, and unmerciful.

Take a simple poll in our culture asking people to describe “church goers” and you’ll no doubt get a mixed review—everything from “kind and generous” to “judgmental, hypocrites”, or worse. Church folks are often viewed as harsh, unmerciful or judgmental because much of the time they are. It’s always puzzling that those who claim to be recipients of God’s grace and mercy can be the last group to extend those gifts to others.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote these words regarding the subject:

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

So speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (James 2:8-13)

A couple of phrases jump out at me: “the royal law” and “the law that gives freedom”. He is not speaking of the general law, the Ten Commandments or the Law of Moses. The “law that gives freedom” is the law to “love your neighbor as yourself”; the Royal Law. How is it that this gives freedom?

If we love our neighbor as ourselves we will extend mercy to them because that’s what we would hope for if we were in their shoes. When we extend mercy, instead of judgment, we are reflecting the character of God. “Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not shown mercy.” God will judge you the way you judge your neighbor.

Christ-followers are the ones described as “merciful, forgiving” not “judgmental, hypocritical”. If we get labeled with the latter, we would do well to stop and evaluate who it is we are really following. Jesus was known as “a friend of sinners”; those who have received God’s mercy ought to be the ones who extend that mercy to others.

We get to choose how we will be known. When people think of you, which adjective comes to mind first, “mercy” or “judge”? Choose to follow Jesus’ lead and emulate His character. Mercy always trumps judgment.