Says liberation theologian Jon Sobrino, “The church of mercy must be prepared to lose its reputation in the world of anti-mercy.” Historically, the Church’s mission has been one of mercy, and some say mercy is its only mission. What does “mercy” mean in today’s culture of rabid accumulation and why is being merciful sure to get us in trouble?

Perhaps you can tell by the title that I don’t agree with many ministers that we should forgive everyone for anything at all times. This is nonsensical and can actually be harmful to the forgiving party. Moreover, I believe that there are degrees of forgiveness that can help us navigate situations in which we have been harmed or hurt. It’s not a black and white issue. At the root of forgiveness lies the nature of evil. As we begin the month of November with its theme “Mercy,” I want to challenge you not to embrace a “forgive and forget” methodology unless it’s truly warranted.