The "F" Word

There’s something amiss about forgiveness. It smacks of unfairness. It rings of injustice and leniency. Its opponents argue that it promotes decadence and recklessness. If someone does something wrong, they get out of jail free in the name of forgiveness.

Something’s just not right about letting a wrong go.

Grudges and Judges

For the Christian, we have to understand that the thoughts expressed in the above paragraphs stem from an incorrect understanding of how things really are. In the name of justice, we don’t realize below us lies a ground that we cannot stand on. At the end of our pointing finger, no matter the person or the wrong done, is a mirror.

When you refuse to forgive, you are saying you are better than that person.

Well, let me shake your world a little. Have you ever lied? You liar. Have you ever cheated? You cheater. Have you ever stolen? You thief. Have you ever lusted? You adulterer. Have you ever put anything first in your life ahead of God? You pagan. Have you ever hated someone? You murderer. Have you ever envied someone? You coveter.

You don’t wanna forgive that person. I’m sorry, but you and I are the ones in need of forgiveness.

But… But… It Happened to Me, Not You!

The common response goes something like, “If only you knew. If only you knew about the pain this person caused me and the consequences of his actions. You wouldn’t forgive him either.”

I’m sorry, but what superior moral ground does a liar/cheater/thief/adulterer/pagan/murderer/coveter have over another liar/cheater/thief/adulterer/pagan/murderer/coveter? We all are in the same boat. We are sinners in need of a Savior.

Having Said That…

Now having said that, I do understand that wrongs should not be done and that there should be punishments for evil. What I’m talking about doesn’t preclude trials and reparations and all that jazz. When someone does something wrong, that person needs to face the music.

But that doesn’t mean he or she can’t be forgiven.

At the end of the day, the evils done by that person are no worse than the ones committed by you and me. We gasp at what Hitler did, but forget we’ve harbored an intense hatred for a certain childhood bully ever since middle school. Jesus tells us that we’ve murdered that bully in our hearts. We are just so much better, aren’t we?

We don’t want to forgive others but we are so quick to forget our own wrongs. That’s a shame.

#Forgiveness #AQCFaith