Mercy Not Sacrifice
Hosea 6:6 I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. KJV
The spectacular consequence of the Asian Tsunami is capturing our imagination. A seismic shift in the earth’s crust moves whole islands, causes waves that devastate the coastlines of 11 nations with the loss of hundreds of thousands lives, and the livelihood of many more, not to speak of cherished holiday resorts. In Iraq and Palestine millions are suffering the consequences of warfare. O Lord, when will it ever end? Oppression in Darfur has driven untold numbers to the limits of survival and beyond. Wasteful consumerism has accelerated global warming and exacerbated hurricanes and flooding, drought and famine. O Lord, when will we ever learn? AIDS continues to bring disease, death, suffering and poverty to millions upon millions of vulnerable people. O Lord, how will our people be healed?
O Lord, our nations are in trouble!
We feel helpless. We are overwhelmed. What can we do? Can we make a difference?
The same media that brings trauma to our attention takes a commercial break to reinforce our craving for bigger houses, designer kitchens, macho vehicles, plasma screens, audio surrounds and every digital gizmo under the sun. On-screen drama is driven by a quest to satiate our every sense: agony and ecstasy, fear and thrill, humor and sorrow, vivid images, ravishing sounds, sumptuous tastes, delicate fragrance, intimate touch and dare I say it, the best sex.
Are we really so helpless?
The prophet Hosea speaks for our time. Israel had become a prosperous, licentious wheeling/dealing nation. They had the means to ‘live it up’, to indulge every fantasy and then to absolve their puritanical consciences through repeated ritual sacrifice. The Lord’s message through Hosea to us is still simple, “I have desired mercy, not sacrifice”. God is not looking for a people who perpetuate their indulgence, and regard token donations to charity as sacrifice neither is He saying that we can resolve all of the world’s problems. He is looking for a people who experience and express ‘mercy’.
Mercy is one of those old-fashioned words avoided by modern translators. They prefer terms like kindness, pity, generosity, grace, loyalty, loyal love, gracious love and relentless love. In short, they are describing a deep-seated emotional response rather than a transactional pay-off.
Israel was intended to be a special nation. The sons of Abraham were to be a people through whom all on earth could be blessed.
Deut. 4:5-7 (The Message)
Pay attention: I'm teaching you the rules and regulations that God commanded me, so that you may live by them in the land you are entering to take up ownership. Keep them. Practice them. You'll become wise and understanding. When people hear and see what's going on, they'll say, "What a great nation! So wise, so understanding! We've never seen anything like it." Yes. What other great nation has gods that are intimate with them the way God, our God, is with us, always ready to listen to us?
Faith has always been connected to social consequence; message without mission is meaningless and preaching without practice is purposeless. Sabbath School Lesson without the Sabbath School Mission would be self-indulgent! And is not Adventist Discovery without Adventist Development inadmissible? Paul reminds us of the futility of tongues, prophecy, understanding, knowledge, earth-moving, philanthropy or human sacrifice outside the context of a charitable spirit. (1 Corinthians 13) We are called, as was Israel to be a witness and a blessing.
People do not experience hope because we talk about a future Kingdom, rather it grows through authentic relationships that embrace the values, attitudes of that Kingdom. God’s redemptive faithfulness is demonstrated through the faithfulness of His people, especially to people in need.
It would be simple to suggest that participation in the Annual Appeal serves to satisfy our charity stake for the year. A one off penance! In practice the Christian ethic demands that we practice faith, generosity and mercy everyday of our lives. The purpose of the Annual Appeal is to bring honor to ‘the nation’ of God’s covenant people. Our object is not the transfer of wealth through token gestures, it is the gift of opportunity through job creation, it is the gift of ability through skill creation, it is the gift of encouragement to people with limited prospect, it brings healing to the hurting and forgiveness to broken relationships.
Over the last year, through ADRA, we have brought relief to people throughout Africa, Asia, South America, the Caribbean and closer to home in the Baltic and South East Europe. We have become an agency of repute that many depend on, with growing respect from National and European agencies. We are now a significant partner in the ADRA International network. Our purpose is not to extract sacrifice, but give our nation, our church and our people the opportunity to exercise mercy.
O Lord, give us the courage.