Balancing Justice and Mercy

This post is part of the “So What” series talking about the significance of some traditional Christian beliefs. It was prompted specifically by Prudence Louise’s comments on my earlier post on why I believe in sin and why that is important. In that post I punted on the question of how a God who is perfectly just can also be perfectly merciful and full of grace.

I don’t know. That’s the simple answer to a difficult question. But, that doesn’t mean attempting to answer it is without value. The question goes far beyond mere theological speculation as it applies directly to our life in society and how we try to organize and manage our communal lives. Maybe by looking at how we think about justice and mercy from a legal and governmental perspective today, we can better understand the question if not the answer.

My wife and I have two grandsons who are students at Ingraham High School in Seattle. In late 2022 they had to shelter in place for two hours as a 15 year old had shot and killed a 17 year old in the hallway. He then shot at another student. The shooter and his friend and accomplice were caught soon after. A year and a half later, the shooter pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to juvenile detention until he turns 21.

Was this an exercise in justice, or mercy, or both? Many who would call for true justice might appeal to…