I have to admit, I'm a little lost on this. You provoked a response in the "X-sphere" by suggesting some kind of comparison of God's mercy with the mercy that was shown by the president to....Hunter Biden? Thereby placing President Biden in the role of....God? Certainly, God may have mercy on Hunter. Left to think it over for a minute, one must assume He will and hopes He does. But that was never the complaint about pardoning the first son. The complaint wasn't "show no mercy." The complaint was, "you and your party were merciless in trying to convict the former and now future president--and you claimed that he was a "liar." Well, in the midst of all of this, saying that Hunter was "improperly prosecuted" (he wasn't) and that he's a "victim" (he isn't)--is just a bigger lie, especially after the press fawning all over the president (and itself) when he said he would not pardon his son for the crimes for which he was convicted. Am I too far afield here?
I fully agree with the fact that God’s mercy and forgiveness is open to all who request it with a contrite heart. If there is anything clear in my mind, it is that God insists on our free will, no matter how much it may harm us, just as a parent allows the toddler to stumble and fall when learning to walk.
I was on Jury Duty on one occasion and several potential jurors got excused because of the admonition that they should not judge. As I have argued before, we have no say on whom God will forgive, and it is indeed none of our business, but holding someone accountable to civil or criminal misdeeds is another matter. The death penalty is a struggle for me, but in the terms of justice on this earth, I believe there are rare circumstances in which it may be applicable, but overall, I believe that there are too many uncertainties to use it under most cases. This is a break with the RCC’s teaching, but one on which I am willing to argue.
Many scholars note that sheltering in God’s wings mentioned often in the Psalms is a foreshadowing of Christ’s outstretched arms on the Cross, meant to encompass all who would have his mercy. Salvation is undeserved, but also not forced. Each must choose, and to not “choose poorly”.
Deuteronomy 19:11-15 God is for capital punishment for murder as long as there are two witnesses.
11 But if any man hate his neighbor, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fled into one of these cities: 12 Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. 13 Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee. 14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it. 15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinned: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Deuteronomy 22:25-27 God is for capital punishment for rape
25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die. 26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man raised against his neighbor, and slayed him, even so is this matter: 27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.
Just a small point on the phrase “Britain’s unjust rule”. I’m currently reading the magnificent history of George III by Lord Andrew Roberts and, although I’m only a quarter of the way through, it is already apparent that rule from Britain was anything but unjust. In fact, concession after concession was made by a country which had just near bankrupted itself protecting its colonial subjects from the French.
This is a very new biography but it is the first to have complete access to the Royal library and therefore trumps a lot of previous history which was based on conjecture and also that written by “the victors”. I think the idea of America throwing off the yoke of oppression is at long last of numbered days.
This isn’t a bitter nationalist rant by the way. I used to have the same understanding of history and took it as read that George was a tyrant but the evidence presented by one of the preeminent historians of our age is hard to ignore.
Yes, Hunter would receive mercy and forgiveness (if he seeks it) from God. But in this case, our President usurped the justice system. Forgiving a couple of specific lesser crimes is one thing; however, pardoning Hunter for ANY crimes he committed (that we might not yet know) is completely out-of-bounds, especially when the "big guy" himself may have initiated or at least participated in some of them. The ability to pardon in that situation belongs only to the One True Judge.
Christ does provide salvation for the whole world but this has to be received by faith and repentance, if the offer isn’t accepted He will be the final judge.
No hand-wringer here, but I have to wonder what effect Hunter Biden’s injuries in the car crash that killed his mother and sister had on his moral development, impulse control, etc. A child of two, he suffered a fractured skull and severe traumatic brain injuries.
While forgiveness is God's, since He alone knows mankind's heart, pardon is certainly within POTUS power. That anyone thought Joe wouldn't pardon Hunter surprises me.
I have to admit, I'm a little lost on this. You provoked a response in the "X-sphere" by suggesting some kind of comparison of God's mercy with the mercy that was shown by the president to....Hunter Biden? Thereby placing President Biden in the role of....God? Certainly, God may have mercy on Hunter. Left to think it over for a minute, one must assume He will and hopes He does. But that was never the complaint about pardoning the first son. The complaint wasn't "show no mercy." The complaint was, "you and your party were merciless in trying to convict the former and now future president--and you claimed that he was a "liar." Well, in the midst of all of this, saying that Hunter was "improperly prosecuted" (he wasn't) and that he's a "victim" (he isn't)--is just a bigger lie, especially after the press fawning all over the president (and itself) when he said he would not pardon his son for the crimes for which he was convicted. Am I too far afield here?
"Certainly, God may have mercy on Hunter." I think that is the entire point.
Point made.
I fully agree with the fact that God’s mercy and forgiveness is open to all who request it with a contrite heart. If there is anything clear in my mind, it is that God insists on our free will, no matter how much it may harm us, just as a parent allows the toddler to stumble and fall when learning to walk.
I was on Jury Duty on one occasion and several potential jurors got excused because of the admonition that they should not judge. As I have argued before, we have no say on whom God will forgive, and it is indeed none of our business, but holding someone accountable to civil or criminal misdeeds is another matter. The death penalty is a struggle for me, but in the terms of justice on this earth, I believe there are rare circumstances in which it may be applicable, but overall, I believe that there are too many uncertainties to use it under most cases. This is a break with the RCC’s teaching, but one on which I am willing to argue.
Many scholars note that sheltering in God’s wings mentioned often in the Psalms is a foreshadowing of Christ’s outstretched arms on the Cross, meant to encompass all who would have his mercy. Salvation is undeserved, but also not forced. Each must choose, and to not “choose poorly”.
Deuteronomy 19:11-15 God is for capital punishment for murder as long as there are two witnesses.
11 But if any man hate his neighbor, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fled into one of these cities: 12 Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. 13 Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee. 14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it. 15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinned: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Deuteronomy 22:25-27 God is for capital punishment for rape
25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die. 26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man raised against his neighbor, and slayed him, even so is this matter: 27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.
"Jesus is the answer and the highest form of love.
The highest form of love is mercy. Mercy is love that we don't deserve. Mercy is the love that when we deserve it least, we're given it the most."
Fr. Mike Schmitz
Just a small point on the phrase “Britain’s unjust rule”. I’m currently reading the magnificent history of George III by Lord Andrew Roberts and, although I’m only a quarter of the way through, it is already apparent that rule from Britain was anything but unjust. In fact, concession after concession was made by a country which had just near bankrupted itself protecting its colonial subjects from the French.
This is a very new biography but it is the first to have complete access to the Royal library and therefore trumps a lot of previous history which was based on conjecture and also that written by “the victors”. I think the idea of America throwing off the yoke of oppression is at long last of numbered days.
This isn’t a bitter nationalist rant by the way. I used to have the same understanding of history and took it as read that George was a tyrant but the evidence presented by one of the preeminent historians of our age is hard to ignore.
Yes, Hunter would receive mercy and forgiveness (if he seeks it) from God. But in this case, our President usurped the justice system. Forgiving a couple of specific lesser crimes is one thing; however, pardoning Hunter for ANY crimes he committed (that we might not yet know) is completely out-of-bounds, especially when the "big guy" himself may have initiated or at least participated in some of them. The ability to pardon in that situation belongs only to the One True Judge.
Thank you, dear Spencer. Beautifully expressed as always. ❤️🙏😇
Christ does provide salvation for the whole world but this has to be received by faith and repentance, if the offer isn’t accepted He will be the final judge.
"Love mounts the cross so as to fling His arms wide. There would be no point in doing so otherwise."
Amen!
No hand-wringer here, but I have to wonder what effect Hunter Biden’s injuries in the car crash that killed his mother and sister had on his moral development, impulse control, etc. A child of two, he suffered a fractured skull and severe traumatic brain injuries.
While forgiveness is God's, since He alone knows mankind's heart, pardon is certainly within POTUS power. That anyone thought Joe wouldn't pardon Hunter surprises me.