Dear Brethren and Friends,

Greetings from San Diego! By all reports, this Feast of Tabernacles—with more than 6,900 in attendance—was the most inspiring and unifying that most of us have experienced in many years! My wife and I traveled to both Niagara Falls in Canada and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. At both locations, the love, warmth and zest of the members was remarkable—and we had a truly wonderful Feast. What a joy to see hundreds of you brethren again in person. And the accounts we hear from nearly all the Feast sites tell a similar story! So we have much to be thankful for!

But now that we're back home, I want us all to focus on a key issue that is troubling a few of our own brethren—and hundreds of brethren from other groups who contact us and are hurting. Most of these people seem unable to see the BIG PICTURE regarding the splits and divisions God's people have gone through in recent years. I hope to help all of you understand this even better so you will be prepared to help our friends and separated brethren more fully grasp what's going on.

Our Creator is trying and testing His people now more than at any time in recent years. Many have become overwhelmed by self-pity, discouragement—even bitterness. "Why," they ask, "couldn't everything continue to be smooth, peaceable and encouraging? Why did God let His people be torn apart into so many different groups? WHY?"

The answer, of course, is that God loves us with a deep, a lasting and an understanding love that many do not fully comprehend. He wants us to be His full sons and daughters, and share His magnificent glory with us—FOREVER. But after His experience with Lucifer, it should be obvious that there's no way our all-wise Creator would give us awesome POWER and eternal life without being absolutely SURE that we have totally submitted to Him. That we will NEVER become yet another bunch of "Lucifers" trying to overthrow and destroy our Maker.

If, somehow, Mr. Herbert Armstrong were still alive and we could have continued to "meet together" in our former association, we would all "have it made," right?

Of course not! For the attitudes and vanity that have caused so many to leave the Truth and turn against virtually everything Mr. Armstrong taught and believed were already in the hearts and minds of those who so quickly turned aside. By allowing these present upsets and "splits" to occur, the Living Jesus Christ is "testing" His people in a very comprehensive way. Will they put the full Truth ahead of personalities? Will they continue to submit to His inspired form of Church government and so learn the lessons of submission to one another and to Christ—the lessons of true teamwork and organization that will genuinely prepare them for that SAME KIND of organization and government in the coming Kingdom of God?

Or, Christ is asking, will many people "water down” turn away from vital truths and principles they had been taught through the work of Herbert Armstrong? Will they use present confusion as an EXCUSE to "do their own thing” in areas of doctrine, Church governance and in doing (or NOT doing) a genuine Work to powerfully preach the Gospel throughout the world?

We are being tested as to the degree we will surrender our lives to be directed by the Living Jesus Christ. He is the real and active Head of the Church! Our Heavenly Father "put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be HEAD over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Eph. 1:22-23). Again, "He is the HEAD of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18). '

So these trials and tests we are now going through are all subject to the overruling providence of Jesus Christ—the One who loved us and DIED for us. Even though these trials seem to hurt at times, Christ does LOVE us with a "perfect love.” He knows what is truly best for us in the long run. And He is preparing us for an ETERNITY of service in His Government. We are learning to function and govern as HE tells us to—not trying to "second guess" His approach at every step of the way with all kinds of human ideas and reasoning. "For the time has come for JUDGMENT to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17). The various excuses being given, the many "word games" being played by individuals to simply get around God's clear instructions regarding doctrine, Church governance and doing the Work—these devices will simply NOT HOLD UP in the penetrating "judgment" of Jesus Christ, our living Head!

Most of us know the teaching, the government and the approach to doing a really powerful Work that the Living Christ directed through Mr. Armstrong for some 52 years. Frankly, we should FEAR to turn aside from that basic approach. For God tells the surviving Philadelphians, "Because you have kept My command to PERSEVERE, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth" (Rev. 3:10). Are you and I, personally, "persevering" in the WAY Jesus Christ directed His Church for those 52 years of unparalleled growth? Again Christ says, "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown" (v. 11 ). Are we, personally, willing to "hold fast" to the approach the Truth and the way of life we learned during those years when the "Philadelphia spirit" was still DOMINANT among God's people?

Or is it easier for us to "go along with the crowd"—to join in "watering down" that fervent spirit and commitment to the full Truth that we were taught for so many years? Are some of us like the politically minded and compromising Pharisees of Jesus' day, who "loved the praise of men more than the praise of God"? (John 12:43).

Each of us needs to ask—and to answer—the above questions in our own heart. I strongly encourage all of you to be brutally honest—as I must be with myself also. For when we carefully consider the ENORMITY of the coming Great Tribulation—and the awesome physical and spiritual trials and perils just ahead—it behooves us to really want to "get it right" in the relationship we have with our Creator. We must not let hurt feelings, past grievances or misunderstandings, the desire to please people, or ANYTHING ELSE come between us and our willingness to completely SUBMIT our will to God and to His way in everything we think, say and do.

That's the bottom line!

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One of the main characteristics God appreciates in a man or woman is courage. When we contemplate the lives of Abraham, Esther, Daniel—and certainly Jesus of Nazareth—we see rich examples of courage in many different and trying situations. Abraham was willing to leave his home, his country and everything he had ever known to travel to a land where he had never gone before. Just why would he do this? Because God instructed him to!

Moses, David and the Apostle Paul risked their lives time and again in serving their Creator. Can we ever forget the example of a young David literally shouting at the giant Goliath, a man who was nearly twice his size? "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied" (1 Sam. 17:45). Can we ever forget the example of Paul who—having been virtually stoned to death in Lystra—soon after went right back to that city to establish the brethren? (Acts 14:19-2i): Then Paul exhorted them, saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (v. 22).

Truly HORRIFYING events are just ahead in the time known as the Great Tribulation. All of us will need both faith and COURAGE to do the Work, endure and honor God in these trying times.

God tells us, "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the COWARDLY, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Rev. 21:7-8). It is obvious that God does not appreciate cowardice. He wants people of faith and courage in His Family.

Elsewhere in this issue, we take note of the death of God's faithful servant, Sidney Hegvold. He was the first full-time minister to join me in helping establish the Global Church of God. His only concern was what GOD thought! In spite of knowing that he would lose his pension (which he did!) after a virtual lifetime of service in God's Work, Mr. Hegvold had the understanding and the COURAGE to step out in faith to help revive the Work of God!

In this and in many other situations, Mr. Hegvold made it clear that he feared God a thousand times more than he feared man. Because of this, Sidney Hegvold will always "stand tall" in my estimation—and I'm sure in God's estimation as well.

As we approach the prophesied END of this present age, we all need to think through what is truly important—most of all what is important to God. Certainly, real COURAGE is one of those qualities we should admire and strive to exercise. For when real, gut-wrenching trials and tests come upon us—as they will—we’ll need men and women of unquestioned faith and courage to help us face the storms. May God grant that each of us will think and pray about this vital attribute of Christian character. And may He help each one of us face the coming perils with unwavering strength and COURAGE.

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“Blessed are the merciful.” These words, taken from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, are familiar to most of us. Yet perhaps we Christians fail to appreciate their importance in our day-to-day lives. In the context of this section of Scripture known as the "beatitudes," some may see mercy only as an expected human characteristic of those who would claim to be Christ's disciples.

But what is this quality of mercy? What does it have to do with you and me?

Several Hebrew and Greek words used in Scripture have been translated into the English word "mercy.” These root words contain the concepts of compassion, kindness, goodness, favor and forgiveness. The emphasis depends on the context in which the word mercy is used, but all are similar in meaning. Taken together, they convey an ideal that is fundamental to true Christianity.

This is the second installment of our three-part series on the weightier matters of the law. In Matthew 23, Jesus tells us that judgment, mercy and faith are "weightier" (v. 23)—that is, even more important—than other aspects of God's law. And while everything that God teaches us is important, we should be most focused on those things that are most important. Mercy, then, is a topic Christians should take time to study and an element of character we should actively cultivate.

A God of Mercy

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that mercy is an attribute of God Himself. It is a trait that determines how He relates to and interacts with mankind, for the Creator knows that insignificant human beings can never measure up to His perfection. We might say that mercy makes up the difference!

Psalm 136 powerfully expresses the far-reaching ramifications of God's mercy. While describing God's creative acts, as well as His dynamic intervention in man's affairs, the psalmist concludes each statement with these words: "For His mercy endures forever." The message is clear—mankind would neither have survived nor even existed without God's mercy. Appropriately, then, this psalm also begins and ends with the exclamation, "Oh, give thanks:..!" (vv. 1-3, 26).

Some assume that mercy "entered the picture" at Christ's First Coming. They've been led to believe that the God of the Old Testament was harsh and demanding—interested only in laying down laws and meting out punishment. Jesus, on the other hand, was kind and compassionate. He was willing to forgive. But let's look at a few passages that tell quite a different story.

When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, the concept of mercy was already an integral part of His plan. While forbidding the Israelites to make or worship idols in the second commandment, God says, "For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments" (Ex. 20:5-6). Punishment and correction are elements of the law—but so is mercy. In fact, it can be argued that giving the commandments themselves as a guide to living was an expression of God's mercy.

When Jesus walked the earth preaching the Gospel, He referred to the Father with these words: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Surely, this makes it clear that any mercy received through the blood of Christ was part of the Father's own plan, not some new approach thought up by Jesus. God has always been merciful!

We can better understand this subject by examining the time when Moses said to God, "Please show me Your glory." The Eternal replied, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion [mercy] on whom I will have compassion" (Ex. 33:18-19).

This remarkable event required Moses to stand in the cleft of a rock while God passed by, to see only the back of His body. God also gave Moses a message: "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin" (34:6-7). It's no coincidence that when God was asked to reveal His nature to Moses, He showed Himself to be merciful and gracious above all else. And Christ, who gave His life for man's sins, is the "express image" of the Father (1:3).

No wonder that down through the ages such men as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and the patriarchs of Israel found grace in the eyes of the LORD when they faithfully called upon His name. For He is truly a God of mercy! ,

Triumph over Judgment

We earlier saw that Christ identified mercy as one of the weightier matters of the law. But why?

The Apostle John tells us that "whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness" ( 1 John 3:4). And we read in Romans 6:23 that "the wages of sin is death…” Yet David says, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul" (Ps. 19:7).

This sounds contradictory. How can the law of God be perfect if breaking it results in death? Especially since the Bible also teaches that ALL have sinned! That would mean that the law has brought certain death upon each and every one of us. And so it has! But God's law is, nevertheless, perfect indeed. For it provides a solution to our lawlessness through the granting of mercy. Therefore, we read in the same verse quoted above from the book of Romans, "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Yes, God in His love did not prescribe a law that could destroy us without also providing a way of escape. Mercy, then, is an integral part-— weightier matter of His law.

We should now be able to better understand a statement found in the book of James: "Mercy triumphs over judgment" (2:13). You see, judgment, based on a strict code of justice, would often bring penalties upon us that we could not endure. Yet many seem to believe this is what God requires. They fail to comprehend God's mercy. Having sinned, they always expect the worst. And this line of reasoning can be a trap. For if our relationship with God is based on expecting the worst, we may well try to work out our salvation through the law. We may even come to think that perfect obedience is within our grasp—that it just requires a little more effort.

The danger here is that we may begin to see ourselves as almost sinless. We might begin to fear the consequences of sin so much that we pretend we don't deserve them. Yet in all human history, only Jesus lived without sin. John tells us, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). God knows that we are going to fall short. And He's waiting to forgive us when we recognize our sins and repent: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (v. 9).

The Prophet Jeremiah understood the need for grace. He knew that God's justice included the element of mercy. Therefore he prayed, "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. O LORD, correct me, but with justice, not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing" (Jer. 10:23-24).

Jeremiah had come to see that God's focus was not just on the "dos and don'ts.” He recognized that the Creator wanted man to learn a way of life. A way that transcended ritual obedience. This truth was revealed to several of the prophets and preached to ancient Israel. Notice Hosea's words: "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6). Jesus referred to this principle while instructing the self-righteous, judgmental Pharisees. The system of sacrifices was given to the Israelites to teach them the need for forgiveness, not to make God feel good!

All of us deserve death. But through God's mercy, He grants us life.

Missing the Point

The religious leaders of Christ's day had constructed elaborate rituals to protect themselves from inadvertent sin. But they became so attentive to their own restrictions that they completely missed the lessons that God's law teaches. As we've seen Christ chastised the Pharisees for this self-delusion: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone" (Matt. 23:23). !

Remarkable! Christ is saying that the specific physical works of fulfilling even the smallest provisions of the law are necessary, but do not compare in importance to the spiritual truths the law reveals. This is amplified in the following verses. Clearly, the Pharisees lacked understanding of the whole law. This, in turn, led them to focus attention on ritualistic details in a way God never intended—and condemn others who did not live exactly as they did.

They had missed the point! They not only failed to see that they could not perfectly obey God, but were ignorant of God's mercy. They could neither avail themselves of it nor explain it to others. Sadly, mercy had no part in their religious practices. No wonder they ridiculed Jesus for talking to harlots and tax collectors—those considered the worst sinners of that time!

Love Mercy

God requires that we "love mercy" (Micah 6:8). But do we?

In times of trial and trouble, there is nothing quite so comforting as knowing our Heavenly Father is loving and gracious, kind and good. It's at these times that we're most likely to remember His mercy. I recall a fellow minister whose wife was suffering terribly from what seemed to be a terminal condition. We had been asked to pray for her. Later, the husband was asked how she was doing. As a young man with little experience in faith, I was shocked to hear the man reply, "This thing is wearing us down until sometimes all I can do is pray, `God have mercy on us:’" Now, many years later, I more fully understand that comment. This man well knew that, ultimately, his wife's healing was completely dependent on God's love. He knew that the Almighty could show them mercy, regardless of whatever sins or shortcomings were in their lives.

The Psalms are filled with examples of King David's heartfelt prayers to God. Often he asked for mercy for himself: Sometimes for the nation. And frequently he thanked God for the mercy He had already shown. A good example of such a prayer is found in Psalm 69. "Hear me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good; turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. And do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble; hear me speedily" (vv. 16-17). Note that as this prayer progresses, its tone changes. Apparently, God's grace had already lifted his spirits. He began in desperation and ended his prayer with praise and confidence in God's deliverance.

David's most well-known prayer for mercy is found in Psalm 51. Here, David acknowledges his sin with Bathsheba and recognizes that he is guilty before God. His only hope lies in forgiveness, made possible through God's mercy. He doesn't beat around the bush. He goes straight to the heart of the subject-mercy! "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin" (vv. 1-2).

Did David love mercy? There's no doubt about it. Notice how he confirms that he understood what the Pharisees did not. "You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart" (vv. 16-17). David understood the connection between the law, sin, repentance and mercy. The Psalms show that he put great value on God's mercy and praised Him continually for it.

Easy to Take

Perhaps you can think back on many occasions when you saw the mercies of God bestowed upon you: Surely we who have been baptized and forgiven of our sins have received this great pardon as an expression of His mercy. We should be deeply thankful for it. But can it stop there?

People usually find it easy to be on the receiving end when some gift is involved. We especially appreciate being given the benefit of the doubt when we don't quite measure up to expectations. Whether in marriage, on the job or in some social situation, we want others to make allowances for us. In short, we want to be recipients of mercy. And well we should!

But mercy isn't just the forgiveness of sin against God. And it isn't all a matter of receiving. God also expects Christians to practice mercy. We might say that mercy must become a state of mind. It's a way of thinking—an attitude and approach that reflects an attribute of God Himself. And of course, to have any effect on others, it must be applied, or given away. We should now go back and quote the whole verse from which the opening line of this article is taken: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt. 5:7). Here we see that God's mercy toward us is sometimes based on our own actions toward others. Though God is merciful to whomever He chooses, whenever He chooses—even so He has set in motion a living principle with respect to mercy. If we don't love mercy enough to bestow it, then we shouldn't expect to receive it. In the same verse in which we found that "mercy triumphs over judgment," we also read, "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy" (James 2:13).

This principle of reciprocation is stated in many forms in the Scriptures. For example, we find Christ's words in the book of Matthew: "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you" (7:2).

So what can you personally expect in the way of mercy? What kind of reputation have you established before God and with other people? If God's mercy toward you were to be determined by your own attitude and actions, would you be ignored when you cry out for it?

One of the most profound statements concerning this question is made by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6:14-15). How are you doing on that one? Do you show mercy when someone seeks your forgiveness, or do you exact the heaviest penalty possible? Or, even if you profess forgiveness, do you secretly hold a grudge and hope that the sinner pays dearly for his deeds? If so, then you are in grave danger of a similar fate.

Christ gave us ample instructions on how to treat our brethren. Matthew 18 covers a whole range of principles governing our personal relationships. It shows us the humility we should have because of our own sins and offenses, and goes on to show us how to react to the weaknesses of others. As Jesus was teaching his disciples; Peter asked how often he should forgive his brother, thinking that seven times might be enough. But Christ replied, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven " (v. 22). Yet even this was not intended to specify an exact number, but rather to emphasize the need for immeasurable mercy.

Following this exchange, Christ went on to give them a parable of a king's servant who, after being released from an unthinkably exorbitant debt to the king, went on to exact every last penny from a poor fellow servant, even casting him into prison (vv. 28-30). When the king was told of this action, he delivered his servant to be tortured until he should pay his own debt. The story ends with a sobering point: "So my heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses" (v. 35). So we see that forgiveness is a matter of the heart! We should not think we can accept God's mercy while rejecting our brother's plea.

A truly merciful mindset is a gift from God through His Holy Spirit. It allows us to share in this marvelous attribute of His own heart. Notice the words of the Apostle James: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" (3:17). This passage calls us to an incredibly high standard of godliness. How are we doing?

The Spirit of the Law

I have known brethren who seemed sincere in their desire to serve God—but who had a blind spot. They put virtually their entire effort into the careful obedience of every jot and tittle of the letter of the law. Yet, some became so narrow and self-righteous that they could not have any patience with those they judged to be inferior in lawkeeping! They appeared to be without the humility that springs from a recognition of one's own human frailty. They had real difficulty in forgiving their brethren. As has been mentioned, the law is to be kept to the best of our ability, but the attitude of mercy and forgiveness goes hand in hand with keeping the law. In fact, it is a "weightier matter" of the law! Without it, our lawkeeping is in vain.

In our contact with those outside the Church, we have ample opportunity to show mercy when someone sins against us. The world is full of offenses, mostly committed by those who don't really even know God. They go blindly along, living the way of get, rarely stopping to consider the needs of others. Christians are often the victims of such careless disregard. Yet, we may not even know the names of those who trespass against us. We may never have a chance to discuss the offenses with them. So it's doubtful they are going to come to us with a repentant attitude, seeking forgiveness.

So the question is: What responsibility do we have in such cases? The answer is simple. We must assume an attitude of mercy—even if God is the only One who will know. In doing so, we'll begin to think the way God thinks. While He hates sin, He loves sinners—and will eventually grant His grace and mercy to all who are willing to receive it. If we, on the other hand, carry around anger and resentment, thinking only of the self, we don't really understand and appreciate God's kindness toward us. We fail to keep the spirit of the law!

We get more insight when Paul tells us in the book of Romans how to go about using our spiritual gifts. He talks about showing mercy "with cheerfulness" (12:8). Acts of supposed kindness and mercy are not spiritually complete if they are done in a perfunctory, begrudging way. They only glorify God when they are done with the whole heart, with the joy of following His example.

Thankfully, God's mercy is not limited to even "seventy times seven" times. In fact, it's readily available when we need it and seek it. In the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah aptly describes this blessing for us: "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning" (3:22-23). How appropriate that this wonderful promise should appear in a section of Scripture devoted to sorrow and lamenting over the sins and resultant captivity of God's people. We can see that even in darkest despair, God is ready to extend mercy to us.

Our Lord, Savior and soon-coming King is also our High Priest, through whom we have access to the Father. And what is His attitude toward us when we fall short? "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:15-16).

In our gratitude for God's grace and our desire to be followers of Christ, we must take on His very nature. The Apostle Paul says to Christians, "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do" (Col. 3:12-13).

We are vessels of God's mercy. And if we would be His children, then we must express His compassion and kindness in our daily lives, that others may see our good works and glorify Him. For they too will one day say, as David did, "His mercy endures forever."