Mercy

Jesus was not tough on crime. He was tough on those who cause harm. There’s a big difference between the two. Jesus did not preach personal responsibility to poor people. He preached accountability to corrupt elites who created the harmful conditions that lead to crime. Those in power, in fact, considered Jesus a criminal. He refused to cooperate with a counterfeit sabbath system that gave workers one day of rest – and then exploited them the rest of the week. His motivation was mercy, a word that literally meant loyalty to the divine covenant – a sacred social pact that prioritized love and liberation over law and order. Mercy does not police and punish poor people. Mercy cuts crime by investing in a platform that affirms life.