Myths, Lies, and Mercy

Exposing the forces that perpetuate and criminalize homelessness

Mercy

Mercy / Uncategorized

The Inhospitality of Sodom

  For most of us, hospitality brings to mind the welcoming in or entertainment of family and friends. Or we think of the hospitality industry – hospitals, hotels, restaurants, etc. But what did it look like in the early days of our shared humanity? If we examine some of our oldest records, specifically the ancient Hebrew narratives referred to as the Old Testament, we see that it was far more than having friends over or care and provisions offered from a facility with dollar signs attached. According to those who spoke on behalf of the god whom these writings credit with creating the heavens and earth and everything within, showing hospitality was intentional, engaging, and not an option. This god, according to these writings, I will argue, destroyed an entire town for their inhospitality. During the 2nd millennium B.C.E., several peoples had come to settle in the Fertile Crescent from...

Mercy

Zacchaeus

  What was that wee little man Zacchaeus looking for when he climbed up into the sycamore tree? And why was he so anxious to see the ‘One’ who was coming? John was immersing people in the Jordan river, the sealing of a contract of commitment, and warning whoever would listen, that the One everybody’s been waiting for is finally on his way. This One will straighten things, he will make all things equal, even, and smooth – He’s just around the corner. Get ready, you’d better be ready. Come and join the ones who are changing their ways in preparation. Crowds of people journeyed down to the river to hear this prophet, and his thrilling words. “Tell us what to do! How do we get ready?!” This is it! I mean, for the Christian faith, this is it! It’s here! This is the announcement of the imminent arrival of...

Mercy

To Die Another Day

Where’s the concern any and every other time of the year? As the nights begin to turn cold, I recall a conversation with a member of our homeless community, and she expressed in one sentence what I had been struggling with for days during those weeks of extreme cold temperatures – that her community’s response is a mixed bag of thankfulness and anger. “Where’s all this concern any and every other time of the year!” Our thoughts were the same, but my struggle was ideological, hers were real. And her feelings represent the feelings of the community that is subjected to these confusing pendulum swings – from being harassed and swept beyond the margins, to being swept up into the rescuing arms of Jesus, (depending on the weather. Literally). There’s a heightened sense of urgency when there are people at risk of literally freezing to death, and I can see...

Mercy

Love mercy, but act with justice

  We can’t create compassion, but mercy is a decision I read through Robert Lupton’s Toxic Charity, a book that had made it’s rounds and gained popularity, mainly among faith-based organizations. I must take issue with, in particular, his explanation of the prophet Micah’s call to act with justice and love mercy. Because his understanding of this text appears to be the foundation upon which he builds his approach in working among the poor, it would be crucial to his argument that he get it right. To begin, Lupton makes the mistake of defining mercy as “a force that compels us to acts of compassion.” This is confusing and simply not correct; he actually has it backwards. Mercy is not a force; it is the act. Compassion comes closer to being defined as a force. For example, compassion is the deep-seated feeling that Jesus had (it is described as dwelling...