Denise Tims is the course facilitator for Te Ao Māori at Carey Baptist College. This article is an excerpt from the 2024 Baptist National Hui panel discussion on how the Hui themes of justice, mercy, and humility relate to the church today and in the past. Watch the panel discussion in full here: Keynote 2: A church of justice, mercy & humility.
The virtue of mercy is one of the most profound and transformative aspects of our faith. It can be challenging, confronting and awkward.
When I first joined the mission order of Urban Neighbours of Hope (UNOH) about 15 years ago, part of our training involved visiting other UNOH workers. I remember travelling to Thailand and walking into one of the largest slums in Bangkok, the Klong Toei slum, in the hot, sticky weather, sweat dripping down the back of my neck. As we walked through the narrow pathways past the tin shacks, the squatters' homes, a UNOH worker said to us, "If you are a person who runs towards mercy and your first response is to help, then you need to learn to pause before you act and think about how you are responding. But if you are a person who naturally holds back, who leans towards judgment and self-righteousness, who tends to classify people into categories of deserving and undeserving based on their actions or circumstances, then maybe you need to check your heart and ask yourself if you need 'to walk towards the awkward' and show love in action." Each has both good and bad aspects. Which kind of person do you relate to?
Mercy is more than feelings; it is tangible action grounded in love and compassion. Rooted in the Hebrew chesed (steadfast love) and Greek eleos (compassion and kindness), the word reflects both God's character and our response to His grace.
However, mercy often involves discomfort—stepping into the 'awkward' places, crossing social boundaries, and addressing biases.
What does the Bible teach us about mercy?
In Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), mercy is shown through concrete actions that transcend social barriers, revealing both compassion and justice.
Often, we can take the position of the Good Samaritan, but imagine yourself as the wounded man on the side of the road. Jesus willingly walked towards our brokenness, healing and restoring us.
In the story of Bartimaeus' healing (Mark 10:46-52), mercy engages the marginalised, affirming their worth and inviting community participation.
Together, mercy and justice are in divine harmony. The words of Micah 6:8, "Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God", illustrate the balance. Mercy and justice are not opposing forces but complementary ones. Justice ensures fairness and restoration; mercy adds compassion and love. Together, they guide how we interact with others and advocate for systemic change.
James 2:13 says, 'Mercy triumphs over judgment'; this is a reminder to approach others with grace, acknowledging our shared need for God's mercy.
Lessons from practical ministry
When we relocated to Randwick Park in Manurewa, we learned that the community's heart's desire was to see their local park redeveloped. It had concrete dumped in it from a nearby building site, the skate park was tagged, and people didn't feel it was safe to walk through day or night.
It helped that the Randwick Park Residents Association (RPRA) became registered as a legal entity to see the park redeveloped. Following this, the RPRA was able to make a submission to the Auckland Council as part of their 10-year plan. We were amazed to find that the Council approved our submission, and this developed into our local community becoming more involved in dreaming and creating a design for our park. We also started a tree-planting initiative after noticing a lack of trees on the street berms. We went from door to door asking our neighbours if they wanted a tree on their berm. Those who agreed to have a tree were invited to help plant it and care for it. This also meant we had to ensure they were watered for two years.
Interestingly, in the process of applying for Council permission to plant trees, we learned there had been unequal distribution of trees in Auckland suburbs. There was a lower level of canopy coverage of trees in the southern suburbs, but relatively high levels in the northern and western parts of the city. It seemed that many years ago, the Council had decided not to invest in trees in areas with social housing.
We advocated for our community by joining the RPRA and creating an entity to help get the park redeveloped and the trees planted. Involving locals helped build a sense of community ownership. Committing to long-term care for the trees reflected faithfulness in the small yet significant steps toward justice.
Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
However, author Robert Lupton asks a challenging question in his book, Toxic Charity: "What happens when the fish disappear from the lake due to pollution or overfishing?"
Teaching a man to fish is an individual matter, Lupton says, but gaining control of the lake is a community issue, which is why we call it 'community development'.
'Betterment gives a man a fish. Development teaches a man how to fish.'
May these insights inspire continued acts of mercy and justice, reflecting Christ's heart in your community and beyond.
Photo: Charles Hewlett, John Tucker, Colin Gruetzmacher, Denise Tims. Baptist National Hui 2024. By Mike Crudge.
