I’m preaching this Sunday on Matthew 5:14-16, so I’ve been hanging around the Sermon on the Mount for a few weeks now. Such good, radical, confusing, hard stuff.

In Matthew 5:15, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” Just a few verses earlier, He said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

In John 8, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” And just a few verses earlier He said, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

So I wonder…are we most like Jesus, do we shine the brightest when we’re showing mercy?

Did Governor Sanford screw up? Yes, and he’s suffering the consequences, but it’s not our place to add to his suffering. Our job is to show mercy. Why? Because I believe we shine most brightly when we do.

And let’s not make this about the future of the Republican party. One man’s life and family are worth far more than any political party or agenda.

By the way, I’m not addressing the “fit for office” issue. That’s not the point here. Others can debate that.

I’d just like to see the church shine brightly this time.