Sup guys
I've shared the meat of this email w/ some of u before but I feel like this is an important enough subject for it to be raised again and it is certainly one that I felt seriously convicted of lately. I wanted to address the issue of Forgiveness in three parts: the first, forgiveness defined; second, the depth of the debt we're forgiven of; and third, how this should colour our relationships with the same grace and mercy towards each other.
To me, forgiveness means resisting the urge for revenge, it means not bearing ill will towards someone, it means wanting good for your enemies, it means grieving for them, and lastly it means seeking reconciliation if at all possible. Forgiveness does NOT mean the absence of anger or consequences. It is natural and correct to be angered by sin (God does it all the time), discipline and correction is still necessary even for the repentant. we're not bound to foolishly place trust and intimacy in those who're not worthy of it (ie, the unrepentant). we take whatever steps are necessary to protect ourselves. These are consequences of sin that are permissible for believers towards the transgressor; what is NOT permitted is hating them, wishing evil upon them, all of which demonstrates a lack of love towards our enemies that Jesus demanded of us.
In quoting psalms, paul wrote that "there is no one righteous, not even one," from Day One of our christianity we are taught that we're ALL sinners and God sought reconciliation with us who are undeserving, who were unrepentant, who were His enemies. Even now we are experiencing His forgiveness on a moment-by-moment basis. A single, unmaterialized intent to tell a small white lie is enough to damn us to eternity in hell because of the nature of God's holiness. The degree of seriousness of a crime can be measured by how undeserving the one against whom the crime was commited. So...hitting a mother who loved and nurtured you is a more heinous/evil crime than hitting a random stranger (this is true even among unbelievers). If we took this and applied it to God who is INFINITELY GOOD, hopefully we can see why a preacher once said "we commit more sin against God in one day, than anyone can possibly commit against us in an entire lifetime."
Which brings us to the parable of the unmerciful servant in matthew 18, i think most of us are familiar with the story - a man is let off of a million dollar debt but refuses to cancel the debt of a few dollars owed to him. Too often, I am so disgustingly similar to this man.. Everytime i fail to demonstrate forgiveness in my life I am displaying for the world that I, in my pride and arrogance, do not acknowledge the million dollar debt Christ releases me from moment-by-moment. I am spitting on the grace and mercy that God shows me every second of my offensive existence. It is my firm conviction that a person's salvation can be affirmed OR disproven by the degree of forgiveness he/she has in their life. I want so so desperately to emulate Christ, even into His love and forgiveness of those who wrong Him. I want to encourage all of us to be a forgiving people, ones who fully recognize the love shown them by Christ and ones who would (out of insane, Christ-like love) pursue those who wrong them with goodness and love.
In the love that Christ bears for us moment-by-moment, have a happy wednesday =)
Edward
"Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' " Luke 23:34
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8
"For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." - Matthew 6:14-15
well, of COURSE penguins can fly...duh..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnlCz1P95WM&NR=1&feature=fvwp
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