After I wrote yesterday's post, my daily devotional seemed to speak to that issue. Paul wrote, speaking to the Corinthians (2 Cor 7:8-9) that if he caused them sorry by his letter, he did not regret it because though it may have hurt for a little while, their sorry led to their repentence.
I read that passage above as Paul asking to be placed on the side of tough love.
Maybe mercy is more like when Randy, early in our marriage, put a cigarette burn in the brand new carpet when he fell asleep in the chair in front of the TV. I never said a word in anger about that. I knew he felt bad enough as it was. Bad enough that his behavior changed after that. (No, he didn't stop smoking then, but he stopped smoking in the house and it was a start. Several years later he claimed it was easier to stop completely because all he had to do was stay IN the house! Whatever works, huh?)
I'm still waiting for you mentors to weigh in on this issue.
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