A trustworthy witness tells what is right, but a false witness, deceit. Proverbs 12:17, TLV

Too Much Compassion?   Is there such a thing as too much compassion? Yes. And how does compassion play a role in justice and mercy?

I’ll never forget the first time I realized people lie in court. My husband and I were newly married and in small claims court trying to get my backpay from a former employer. My former boss brought in his district manager as a witness to intimidate me—and it did intimidate me. I had never met the man.

Really, it was a straightforward petition, but the defendant lied about me, claiming I had done illegal things and had countersued for a larger sum. Fortunately, because I understood the company’s corporate policy, I was able to discredit every lie.

The judge saw through my former employer’s dishonesties and ruled in my favor, but it was a rude awakening what people will do to win. By the way, his manager saw through the lies, too—and he never testified.

Did I win?

The case was won—truth and justice triumphed, right? Well, sort of. I never received my backpay. Why?

Just because a case is won, we don’t always “win”. He just didn’t pay me back.

We were advised as to how we could further pursue legal action, which would have been messy for him. However, here’s what I knew. His credibility had been questioned, in front of his boss. His wife was pregnant with their second child and had diabetes.

Because of that, we chose to not pursue further legal action.

We had compassion for his family. He was in the wrong, and I suspect based on other activities I witnessed while working there, he was guilty of other misconduct.

Why did I go through the trouble in the first place? Why not have the compassion before and not take him to court?

Honestly, I was owed the money and we were living on a Navy sailor’s E-3 salary. So, we needed the money. Really, I thought once he received the summons, he would just send the backpay and we would never have to set foot in the courtroom.

The world is worse today than it was nearly fifty years ago.

We live in a world where emotions, self-preservation, and political correctness can sway a verdict over the truth. Compassion for the oppressed can overshadow right and wrong. Even when true justice is pronounced, a crowd can take matters into their own hands and respond with violence.

One of the Bible’s most profound legal instructions — in my non-lawyer understanding — is in Exodus.

“Do not spread a false report. Do not join hands with the wicked by becoming a malicious witness. Do not follow a crowd to do evil. Nor are you to testify in a case, to follow a crowd and pervert justice. On the other hand, nor should you take sides with a poor man in his case.” Exodus 23:1-3, TLV

In the above passage we are NOT to:

• spread a false report.
• join hands with the wicked by becoming a malicious witness.
• follow a crowd to do evil.
• testify in a case, to follow a crowd and pervert justice.
• take sides with the poor man in his case when know he has practiced an illegal deed.

Our Heavenly Father is clear about His hatred of lies and injustice. He’s also a GOD of compassion, grace, and mercy.

Many people confuse the path to mercy and compassion. They feel they can take matters into their own hands—because no one else will. Mercy isn’t mercy unless there is a guilty verdict. Someone has to pay. We cannot pervert justice to show mercy and compassion. But there can be mercy in justice.

Our Father showed compassion and granted us mercy in that we were condemned and are now free. But at the cost of His Son’s suffering and death. He had to pay for our guilt. (John 3:16-18)

If we’ve been called as a witness — whether in a court or in an argument — be truthful. Depend on our Holy GOD to sort out the outcome in His way AND His timing.

May we be a trustworthy witness, my friends.

WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON, SO MANY VOICES, HOW DO WE FIND THE TRUTH? DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH TOO MUCH COMPASSION, OR NOT ENOUGH?