Mercy-Justice

[Laayla]

We were discussing the attributes of God yesterday in my Islamic class. I proposed this question to the class and thought to see what the answers were on this board.

I'm posting this topic here because I want to get your thoughts about how do you perceive God. Do you find God's Mercy above His Justice or his Justice above His Mercy?

It's not a trick question. If you don't understand my question, let me know so I can clarify it.

[Winter80-sara]

I am not sure I completely understand your question. Please clarify for me.

[Laayla]

Does God's Mercy surpass (exceed) His Justice or does His Justice surpass His Mercy?

[Winter80-sara]

In my opinion i feel the two Attributes are equal because, even though justice must be fullfilled because God loves us so much mercy will be considered just as much as justice. Besides true justice cannot be measured without mercy.

[percarde]

This is like that question we talked about before about the death bed repentance of a mass murderer. The Merciful god people said that the repentance would be enough. The Wrathful (is that the right word?) god people believed that it isn't.

An interesting topic and I have to admit that I'm split. The Old Testament God seemed a more wrathful, vengeful god. While the New Testament God is generally a more merciful god. In my opinion, two sides of the same being.

[Winter80-sara]

isnt God only more vengeful if you do not repent and mean it. I think he is as forgiving as he is vengeful.

[Mandy]

Good question Laayla.

I have come to believe that God's mercy exceeds His justice. God does not condemn or require justice for our mistakes or our accidents, or for those moments in our lives that we feel that our back is against the wall and we make poor choices. In general I believe that mercy is more often than not the more challenging, the more compassionate, and the more edifying choice that we can make, and therefore another reason I believe that God’s mercy “surpasses” His justice.

I thought that this quote from The Merchant of Venice was fitting:

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.

[blueeyesdebbie22]

Good question Laayla.

I have come to believe that God's mercy exceeds His justice. God does not condemn or require justice for our mistakes or our accidents, or for those moments in our lives that we feel that our back is against the wall and we make poor choices. In general I believe that mercy is more often than not the more challenging, the more compassionate, and the more edifying choice that we can make, and therefore another reason I believe that God’s mercy “surpasses” His justice.

I thought that this quote from The Merchant of Venice was fitting:

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.

Tracy you have a beautiful way of putting your words to paper so to speak. My feelings on this is more towards how you feel too.
I love that quote too!! Is that another that is on your fridge ?

[Mandy]

Deb, you're so nice to me, thanks! You are one to talk though, you're no slouch!

LOL, I am a bit of a Shakespeare freak, (I am just generally a bit of a freak I think sometimes! LOL) and I remember this one because I put it in a card for my sister when she graduated from law school. Here is more of it:

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.

ETA Oops, I guess I should have posted that in the quotes section, but it does exemplify my thoughts on this question.

[lostinks]

God is just.....Second, God is merciful.....Neither exceeds nor surpasses the other.
God's mercy was extended to mankind by the giving of His son as the
appeasement of His justice. Thus God's mercy and His justice work hand
in hand (so to speak). His mercy was extended toward us when He made
forgiveness possible through the sacrifice of His Son which appeased
the demand of His justice.

[Winter80-sara]

I agree with you Alice ;) Good answer

[Mandy]

God is just.....Second, God is merciful.....Neither exceeds nor surpasses the other.
God's mercy was extended to mankind by the giving of His son as the
appeasement of His justice. Thus God's mercy and His justice work hand
in hand (so to speak). His mercy was extended toward us when He made
forgiveness possible through the sacrifice of His Son which appeased
the demand of His justice.

Well put Alice. I believed the same for many years. The book of Isaiah shows me that God's Justice involves seeking equality and protection for those who cannot seek it for themselves, i.e. "the fatherless and the widow". The book supports my belief that God's justice is tempered by his mercy, and therefore His mercy is the greater of the two.

[tweety_kiss]

I feel God is a merciful and forgiving but we each have to deal with the crosses that we bear. That is also where God does come in. God helps us to understand ourselves more and guide us.

I also believe in our spirit guides and that we all have at least one or more guide who help us with our decision making and our hard times. God is very good delegator of his roles.

Those who do well are always rewarded and those who have somehow strayed or been fallen get extra guidance so they can repent and make up for it.

Now if you want to ask me what my own faith is, I can say a lot since it is very complex and I don't belong to an organized religion but yet I firmly do believe in Revelations since I see much proof here that things are already starting to happen. I will never in my life will knock down the bible nor any holy book for that matter. I just may not agree with everything that is said.

One reason I left the Christian church is that I was told that I was believing in things that go completely against the faith and also I couldn't agree with everything the bible had to say. Since I don't want to go in the Lakes of Fires or "downstairs", nor be a hypotwit, I found it best to say I am not a Christian. :cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

[perfecta2005]

I think that Allah is equally merciful and just. I think while most people think of justice as dealing out punishment, justice also involves fairness. Allah is a just God....people aren't judged unfairly because of their status in life or wealth, everyone is judged equally. Our court systems do not judge people fairly. So I think that by judging everyone fairly and justly, Allah is merciful.