Woah-oh, oh, mercy, mercy me - Crossroads Soul Resources

Woah, ah, Mercy, Mercy me:
Grounding in Mercy, Justice, and Humility

Lets begin this conversation with a few encouraging words from brothers and sisters in times like these.

Mercy triumphs over judgment.—James, the brother of Jesus

O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.—Habakkuk 3:2

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.—Micah 6:8

In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. —Rev. Mariann Budde’s

Woah, ah, mercy, mercy me. Ah, things ain’t what they used to be. —Marvin Gaye

“I could be wrong. Help me not be a jerk.”— Clare Loughrige

Friends, as we navigate the complexities of this moment, and before reading any further, let’s cultivate a posture of openness to God’s presence. One practical way to embody this is through the practice of Breath Prayer:

Breath Prayer

Breathing in: You are God.

Breathing out: I am not.

Breathing in: I could be wrong.

Breathing out: Help me not be a jerk.

Breathing in: Your kingdom come, Your will be done.

Breathing out: In me and on Earth.

(Let’s repeat this simple prayer whenever we feel triggered, are tempted to be jerky and allowing it to guide us toward wisdom and mercy.)

Seeing Through a New Lens: The Call for a Consistent Life Ethic (CLE)

In the midst of societal chaos, and a desire to “not be a jerk” we need more than polarized stances on individual issues. A Consistent Life Ethic (CLE) offers a compassionate, holistic wholistic and mercy-like framework for addressing human dignity. Rooted in the call to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27), this ethic challenges us to approach complex issues with humility and hope.

Asking Beautiful Questions

To embrace a CLE, we must engage in honest dialogue with those who disagree with us (or those we think are jerks):

“How do you see it?”
“How did you come to this way of seeing?”

These questions open the door to understanding and connection, helping us move beyond judgment to empathy.

Trauma-Informed Compassion

Research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) reveals how trauma shapes lives and influences choices that may be difficult to comprehend. A CLE acknowledges these realities, focusing on healing rather than quick reactions, judgement and condemnation. It calls us to:

Act justly.
Love mercy.
Walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).

Applying CLE to Key Issues

Racial Justice: As Austin Channing Brown reminds us: “Our only chance at dismantling racial injustice is being more curious about its origins than we are worried about our comfort.” A CLE invites us to listen, learn, and act against systemic racism.

Immigration Reform: Scripture commands justice and hospitality for the foreigner (Deuteronomy 27:19). A CLE challenges us to practice radical hospitality and advocate for policies that reflect God’s heart for the desparate, innocent, illeagal immigrant seeking refuge.

Sexual Identity: A CLE encourages us to replace judgment with curiosity and compassion. Neuroscience shows that curiosity and judgment cannot coexist. By listening to the stories of the LGBTQ community with humility, we reflect God’s love and advocate for mercy, liberty and justice for all.

Abortion Reform: A CLE shifts the conversation from judgment to compassion. By addressing economic hardships, lack of support, and trauma, we can create policies that support women and families, tackling root causes rather than symptoms.

Gun Reform: A CLE considers the right to bear arms alongside the devastating impact of gun violence. It seeks solutions that protect lives, address mental health needs, and invest in community safety.

A Third Way in Practice

We cannot confine ourselves to conservative or liberal ideologies. Instead, we must seek a Third Way, rooted in mercy, justice, empathy, and a commitment to the common good. This means:

Prioritizing human dignity over political allegiance.
Understanding trauma and addressing systemic failures.
Engaging in dialogue that transcends division.

I offer Crossroads Church and Ministries, where Scott and I have served as the Senior Pastors for almost 34 years, human dignity statement reflects the grand attempt to live like Jesus:

Dignity Statement:

“We know that the human experience includes difference and diversity, and that we continue to learn ways to navigate our created selves, our relationships with others, and a fuller picture of the Kingdom of God. We celebrate the inherent greatness in people of every background, race, gender, and orientation.

Jesus’ teachings uniquely present what it means to belong in this Kingdom and to each other in His body. Crossroads Church and Ministries stands with marginalized people and communities who have been abused and hurt in the church and its environments and we strive to make our church a safe place for you. We do not tolerate classism, racism, sexism, homophobia, or any other form of discrimination that disrespects the dignity of any human being.”

Conclusion

A Consistent Life Ethic transforms the way we engage with the world. It places justice, mercy, and humility at the forefront, moving us beyond wrath, fear mongering, and partisanship to a compassionate approach rooted in love for God and neighbor. Together, we can foster a society that values every life and honors the call to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

Breathing in: You are God.

Breathing out: I am not.

Breathing in: Your kingdom come, Your will be done.

Breathing out: In me and on Earth.

Amen.

MORE TO COME—

Keep your eye on our blog for how the Enneagram and Harmony keeps people centered and grounded as and Pathfinders1/4/7, Orchestrators 3/6/9 and Catylist 2/5/8.

In a Time of Chaos, Hope Prevails

I’m incredibly grateful to be part of an amazing group of therapists, professors, writers, and pastors who are leading the way in spiritual transformation. Together, we’ll reflect the power of God’s love in a world that needs it more than ever.