Avoidance Theology
April 24, 2026
“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward
Four simple words—Justice, Fairness, Mercy, Grace—which one do you want? What if you can only have one, which one will you choose? Let’s consider four examples.
Justice. Jesus spoke to the Pharisees about their priorities in Matthew 23:23,
The Pharisees’ tradition weighed fulfillment of the letter of the law above the intent of that law and were bound by legalism. They liked enforcing rules and were willing to apply judgment by evaluation of the standards they deemed most important. After all, the Israelites had agreed to live by the Law.
Justice requires treating all issues by the letter of the Law, applying it equally to all persons in all cases without wavering.
Mercy. King David had done something that God had expressly said for him not to do but out of expediency, he did it anyway. Sure enough, almost immediately upon completion of the census of his resources, he was convicted in spirit and admitted that he had sinned greatly. The very next morning the prophet Gad came to him with God’s course of resolution which had three tracks and David was to choose one of the three.
David choose Mercy, casting his fate into the compassion of the Lᴏʀᴅ, trusting God’s desires for the welfare of His people to be the greatest of the possibilities. Jesus emphasized God’s priority when he chided the Pharisees over their judging by their own values instead of God’s,
While God is just, the Lᴏʀᴅ seeks to enter in and resolve separation rather than invoke the justice of the Law. Clemency over enforcing condemnation. Condemnation is the end result of refusal to submit to God’s ways.
Fairness. One of the precepts woven into God’s standards for the life of those who would identify with Him is fairness or what is currently called equality. Regarding the rights of all both in society and commerce is this stipulation,
It is noteworthy that these precepts do not exceed equality or give the customer or outsider higher rights than anyone else but there simply is to be truth in all aspects of life before God. For examples of this in action, consider both Rahab and Ruth, women in Jesus’s lineage, both who were not of Israel by birth but yet took God’s ways as their own and became of Christ. 7
Grace. While Grace is most clearly known in the New Testament, Jeremiah touches on grace in Jeremiah 31:1-3,
Whether Jeremiah is talking of Israel surviving the Babylonian Captivity or the final restoration of Israel, their deservedness is never by merit but always by the Lᴏʀᴅ’s love for them being worked out by His faithfulness to them. God was the One expressing His favor in creating a way for Himself in which they become acceptable.
The New Testament is packed with expressions of Grace especially as demonstrated in Jesus’s work on behalf of our separation from God,
For Christ Jesus to die for man’s sin, offering Himself, and then save those who eagerly await Him is God’s manifest demonstration of Grace. The Lᴏʀᴅ has rendered judgment, having evaluated the value of the offering meeting the need for which it was given and then proclaimed the verdict of the sufficiency to provide Grace.
Now, in truth, Fairness does nothing to change our relationship with God as it is only comparative equality under law. Justice also does not give ability to enter relationship with God for it only demands the judgment and not the enabling. Mercy is necessary for we no longer receive the due recompense of our ways as it provides God’s means to set aside consequence while maintaining His integrity. Grace actually resolves and removes the judgment of guilt and gives us relationship beyond what we deserve by the substitutionary work of Jesus on our behalf.
God’s way is superior to what our efforts on our own behalf could afford.
“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be
But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able
“… Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.”
Glory to God “…and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light…”Editor’s Note: this is
“… How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and