Most of our sins directly affect others in one way or another and have a negative impact on their lives. As an example, when we speak unkindly or in anger, the wounds inflicted can be very deep. They may be hidden, but the effects of this sin are real and the damage to self esteem can be real as well. Even if the person being attacked in this way is strong, and secure enough that our words don't impact their self esteem directly, those hurtful words certainly color the thoughts and feelings of those who hear them.
The person being attacked is apt to harbor ill feelings toward the person who spoke the hurtful words. They may even feel anger and resentment toward their enemy. They might retaliate and try to get justice on their own terms. In other words, when we commit sins, sometimes our sins motivate others to sin as well because of their desire for immediate justice or out of the anger they feel as a result. Sin begets sin and can become a downward and escalating cycle.
Another thing to consider is how do our hurtful words impact others who happen to hear them or learn of them later? None of us can say for sure, but the reputation and good name of the person attacked are certainly at risk. The words we spoke carelessly or in anger could cause those we spoke of to lose friends or their job or even, in some cases, the confidence of their families. Perhaps our mean words push someone already on a ledge even closer to the brink.
Our hurtful words quite likely will be repeated by others and then, truly, even if we wanted to recall our words and attempt to undo their damage, we couldn't. Like a fire, our words, when fanned by the relentless winds of gossip, can spread so rapidly that they can't be contained until they burn themselves out leaving only the ashes and sorrow of hurt feelings and damaged reputations.
I've laid out some of the worst case scenarios in an attempt to provoke you to thought as you react to what I've said. But even in outcomes where the impact is less than those outlined above, the effects of this sin are negative and damaging.
One of the most sinister aspects of this sin is that through gossip, we totally lose control of our words and can have no real knowlege of the full extent and damage they, once released, have caused. For this reason, we should consider our words carefully before releasing them into the wild, especially when motivated by the negative emotions of anger, jealousy or hate. Remember, once released, they are forever outside our power and control and we will never really know the full extent of the damage they will cause (James 3:2-10, Proverbs 21:32).
The above discussion is a terse and shallow introduction illustrating the reach sin has into the lives of others. A deeper discussion which would explore how our sins affect those closest to us, particularly our impressionable children., could be made, but that is not my intent with this post. With this post, I merely want to make the broad point that our sins are not completely owned by us because of the way they impact the lives of others.
Some of you might argue this point with me and try to make a case for the private nature of some sins stating that if they hurt anyone at all, that their damage is limited to the transgressor alone and to no one else. While I would be quick to agree that some sins are more private than others, you would have a hard time convincing me that the transgressor is ever the only one affected.
Sin by its very nature alters our perception of life and influences the way we see ourselves and others. Therefore sin necessarily impacts not only our own lives, but every interaction we have with others. Sin makes us less open and trusting of others and more jaded and cynical. Sin causes us to focus our lives inwardly instead of focusing our energy and talents on blessing others. Sin brings with it a burden of guilt. Sins have weight to them that sap energy away from us leaving us less able to play a positive role in the lives of others. Sin causes us to feel duplicitous and hypocritical.
Can you see how even our private sins impact others? If what I'm saying is true, then all of our sins take a toll not only on ourselves, but on everyone else around us, especially those who love us most. They will likely be confused by the negativity sin has introduced into their relationship with us without ever really knowing the reasons why.
Given the fact that the cost of sin is great, not only in our own lives but in the lives of others, is there any real way that mercy, through the atonement, can ever be applied without making a mockery of justice? I think the only reasonable response to this question is maybe, or, it depends. Mercy can't rob justice when justice has a claim (Alma42:21-30 note verse 25). This means that mercy can't be applied universally, but does indeed have conditions.
The next question which demands an answer is that if mercy depends on something, then what? What are the conditions of mercy which allow it to claim a soul instead of justice, which would require the sinner to make payment in full with interest?
If you take the position that there are no conditions as some do, then you must accept that everyone will be saved and that what we do in this life ultimately doesn't matter. This is a philosophy I simply can't believe and one which is not supported by scripture. What this philosophy suggests is that the most hardened, rebellious and unrepentant sinners would, in the end, receive the gift of salvation without repentance or a change of heart of any kind. Any other line of reasoning suggests that there are conditions for salvation.
The other extreme would be that we must become so good at keeping the commandments that we never break them. In other words, we must become perfect. This, again, is an extreme view which is out of harmony with scripture.
So can justice and mercy peacefully coexist? The answer is yes, that through the atonement God has found a way to extend mercy to His children while still meeting all of the rights and demands of justice (Alma 42:13-15).
The Lord through the atonement paid the price demanded by justice for the sins of all those who would repent. But if this is true, then, repentance is one of the conditions of salvation. I know that this ruffles the feathers of many Christians who believe that we are saved through faith and faith alone, but as the apostle James made clear, faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26, Faith Without Works Is Dead). Repentance is the most powerful way we can demonstrate to the Lord and others our Faith in Him.
Through our choice to repent, we are showing through our lives that we believe in God and in His saving grace. And think of the good our repentance brings into the world. One of the conditions of repentance is that we attempt to undo the effects of our sins insofar as we are able. Therefore our repentance ministers to those who were hurt most by our sins and begins to lift their burdens and to heal the wounds they received at our hands.
Have you ever deeply considered the law of the harvest? Basically, what it states in simplistic terms is that what comes around goes around. In other words, if you go about your life doing evil, then you will ultimately reap the fruits of your evil life and evil will be your reward. The other side of this principle is equally true. If our lives are spent doing good, then the fruits of our labors will be love, peace, tolerance, and mercy. And these will be the very things we will reap when we are judged.
The law of the harvest is woven into the parable of the two debtors. The king, when he took an accounting of his servants, found one who owed him ten thousand talents, an exorbitant amount which in today's terms would total in the millions. The king had compassion on the man and completely forgave the debt. But when this man found another who pleaded with him for mercy concerning a debt of a hundred pence, an insignificant amount totaling only a few dollars in today's terms, he would not, and had the man thrown into prison. When the king learned what this man had done after he forgave his enormous debt, this is what he did (Matthew 18:32-35):
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
The full parable can be found here Matthew 18:23-35.
The Lord is surely teaching us that if we would receive mercy at His hands that we should freely forgive others their tresspasses against us. Also, I think it is important to note that the debts others owe us is usually small to insignifcant when compared to our debt with the Lord. I don't think any of us will demand justice when we stand before God to be judged of Him but will, with all our hearts long for His saving grace and the mercy it provides. If we can learn mercy and forgiveness now, in this life, we will posess the key to unlocking God's mercy and forgiveness on our behalf in the next. By doing this now, we will surely be walking in the example the Lord has set for us.
So then, what are the conditions upon which mercy rest? Simply these: first, faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Without this, nothing else matters or is even possible. Second, repentance. Next, baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost (John3:3-5, Article of Faith 4). This covenant brings us into the fold of Christ and unites us with His kingdom and people. Finally, continue repenting as necessary, forgive others freely and, of course, love others and minister to their needs.
Additional scriptures which speak about the law of the harvest:
Alma 41:12-15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again...
Galations 6:7-9 For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap...
Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31 Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you...
The whole chapter of Matthew 25 deals with preparing to meet the Lord and to be judged by Him. In this chapter the Lord gives the parables of the ten virgins, the talents, and that of the sheep and the goats. The oil in the wise virgin's lamps represent the preparations they have made to meet the Lord at His coming. The talents represent the gifts God gives us. He desires that we use these gifts to bless others thereby magnifying them and doubling them in His sight. The parable of the sheep and the goats clearly states how we should prepare to meet the Lord and how we should employ our resources and talents.
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