Friday, August 28, 2009

One Question Friday


Every Friday I’m going to ask a question. The questions I choose might be ambiguous on purpose. The goal is to have you answer the question according to your beliefs, where you’re at in life or a circumstance that might have recently impacted you. The only thing I ask is that you provide an explanation for why you answered the way you did.

It is my hope to understand you better through this and also to gain a greater understanding of humanity and how people make decisions.


Question Time:



Justice or Mercy?


















*photos by flickr

25 comments:

  1. It depends on the crime....but usually I am all about mercy. I'm slightly incapable of being mean (I'm sure if you ask my kids they'll say the opposite...but really...I am nice!)

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  2. I'm with Marybeth.... It probably depends. I'd like to say mercy, but there have been times when I've been all about the law. So thankful for Christ, that it's not subjective for Him and that because of Him, we don't feel the full extent of the law!

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  3. This is an extremely tough question! My first instinct was mercy... without it we would all be hellbound. If God (who is perfect and Holy in every way) can extend limitless mercy to us - we should be doing the same. Sometimes justice can be an act of mercy ... wow I could go on and on ... this was a deep one today! I'll be pondering this one for awhile!

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  4. For crimes: justice. For everyday life: mercy.

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  5. I agree with Jill, too. But if I had to pick just one, I'd pick mercy...because I agree with what Lauren said about God's limitless mercy being extended to us.

    Have a great weekend :) It's raining in GA, not a great start to the weekend for us :(

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  6. I'm going to have to go with mercy, but there are times when I'd prefer to see justice.

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  7. This is a hard one and it does depend on the circumstances. I tend toward mercy but not in all cases.

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  8. Mercy. Because God says it triumphs over judgement. Somewhere in the book of James.

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  9. Mercy, but my hubby would say justice. LOL

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  10. That's a really hard question. I had many thoughts go through my mind as I thought about it, and a different answer every other time.

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  11. Hmmm...this is a tough one. I think I'm going to go with justice. Without justice, there could be no laws. With no laws, no rules. No rules, no humanity. No humanity, no mercy. So justice.

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  12. I'm glad for both. I need justice to grow. If I never was disciplined for my wrongdoings, how would I grow? But I need mercy to keep from being crushed by the justice metted for every one of my sins.

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  13. For me, mercy. For others, justice. I know it's hypocritical, but if I'm honest, this is my answer.

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  14. I have to give (and hope for) mercy because the world will always demand justice. Who in the world will extend mercy if not us? It has to begin somewhere.

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  15. I think I am generally a mercy type of gal. Always hoping to see the good in others or look beyond what has happened as to what caused it to occur. Good thought.

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  16. Justice when innocents are wronged, mercy for souls. Mercy when God asks it of us, and justice when He requires.

    Deep question, this one, Wendy!

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  17. Until a person is called into account by justice (even vigilante justice), there is no need for mercy. Until a person sees by justice the need for mercy, it will not be received. I think the two go hand in hand.

    If you're speeding, you don't think of the need for mercy until you get pulled over by the law. (The voice of an ex-cop talking here. :D)

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  18. May all the justice of the world be taken but God grant me his wonderful mercy. I beg for each day. I must have it.

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  19. All I know is this.... I'm thankful for mercy. I deserve JUSTICE, but I get grace and mercy over and over and over again.

    When I stand before the Lord, let me never ask for what I deserve. And let me always be thankful for what He gives instead.

    I'm simply in awe of grace -- God's Riches At Christ's Expense. And I am equally in awe of mercy -- being spared from what I really deserve.

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  20. Hey, Wendy! I gave you an award today! Thank you for your sincerity and encouragement!

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  21. I know the right answer is "mercy," but I always seem to want justice when something happens.

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  22. Hi Wendy,

    Interesting question. My instant response is "Justice". I think of starving kids, abused kids, sex traffickers, pedophiles, etc. and I want justice for those without a voice...justice for those who desperately need someone to intervene for them.

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  23. Can't have justice without mercy. .... It's like grace and truth. Old testament and new testament. They need each other.

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  24. There's a place for both. Justice is seeing someone deal with the consequences of their choices. We all receive justice this way. Ultimately we don't pay the price of eternal separation from God if we accept His grace through belief. From human to human, though mercy (saving someone from their deserved consequences) usually leads to selfishness and more bad decisions. Justice, as in our system of laws and punishments, doesn't work because it's doled out inconsistently and with humans who can continue to choose evil despite negative consequences. With our children, it's our jobs to give them justice to teach them to follow God and obey Him (they won't do the right thing because it's right, they have to be given outside motivation until they learn to obey.) But they also need mercy, as in our forgiveness and unconditional love.

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