Gene Hendrickson passed a great quote along to me today by C.S. Lewis (I paraphrase): To be a Christian is to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in us. Lewis then fleshes this out a little bit: It is to forgive the inexcusable because forgiving the excusable really isn't forgiveness; it's fairness. To this I add, coming to God in confession and repentance and offering excuses is to reject the forgiveness he offers: How can you accept forgiveness if you offer excuses for what you've done? This isn't to say that there isn't a story or context to wrong acts. Of course there is. What it is to say is that forgiveness is a very serious thing because it deals with a very serious issue: sin. And sin cannot be forgiven without being admitted as sin.
Some think that forgiveness is giving up justice. This is wrong. Rather, forgiveness takes justice very seriously. If you forgive someone or are forgiven yourself, it means that there is acceptance of wrong. If I were to come up to a complete stranger and say, "I forgive you," they would be offended (rightly so!). What wrong had they done that deserved forgiveness? You see, in forgiving someone, we also blame someone. Rather than dismissing justice, forgiveness enforces justice: it makes sure that what was done that was wrong is declared wrong.
In giving us the ability to forgive, God has also given us the ability to have justice even when no courts are involved. He has given power to the powerless! The command to forgive then, is better understood as part of the good news that the Kingdom of God has come: Even the least powerful can have justice--divine justice--by doing one of the most difficult things a human can: forgiving.
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I agree with this, especially the part that states "What it is to say is that forgiveness is a very serious thing because it deals with a very serious issue: sin. And sin cannot be forgiven without being admitted as sin."
We often come up with some very stupid excuses when we should be admitting that we did something wrong. I think that people don't realize that sin seperates us from God. Jesus warns us in Mt 7:23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
So I wonder how, in a place that is so focused on themselves and don't think there doing anything wrong, do we tell people how God loves them and will forgive them?
A profound quote. I had never thought about forgiveness like that - that in order to forgive, you also declare that some fault has taken place. In order to BE forgiven, you admit to doing something needing that forgiveness. However, I wonder about calling it justice. It seems like, yes, the first part of justice is admitting that wrong was done. But the second part is facing the consequences of that wrong-doing. Forgiveness erases the deserved consequences. Justice says yes, I sinned against God and the consequence is that I can not be with Him. Forgiveness blames me, but then shows me mercy and removes my consequences.
Why is it so difficult for us to forgive? We often let our stubborn pride stand in the way. We selfishly wish greater hurt on the offender. But God is "abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished." (Exodus 34:5-7) He commands us to forgive others. That's all, then he'll take care of the rest.
To forgive one another, we must first love one another. We reaffirm our love in forgiving. God finds delight in showing us mercy! (Micah 7:18) Souldn't we follow his example?
hey kellie, perhaps we need to think about justice. i think you're right that the consequence of sin is not being with God. but why does that come about? is it because God can't stand being around us? i think it more like we can't stand being around God with sin. the slightest glimpse of what a life of sin mixed with God's presence is like is the intense moment of conviction. you can't survive in conviction very long... so, what, then, do we think about justice? i think it most accurate to think of God's Kingdom and to learn justice from it--which is restored relationship: judgment against sin, forgiveness, and embrace. so, the person who has forgiven has justice: they said they believe wrong to have been done (while giving judgment to God), have forgiven, and moved in the direction of embrace...which may involve strict conditions.
so, this is why i call it justice.
gt, you ask a great question. the effects of salvation are wider than the effects of sin. preaching a gospel of forgiveness may not be the message which most strikes the hearer who is not guilty. i will confess that i don't understand how people feel guilty as a five year old, but i know some have and having sins forgiven was a huge burden relieved. when i was five i wasn't really concerned with what i did wrong--to be honest, i was a decent kid. the part of the gospel that was most powerful to me that i first remember was restored relationship. i could never stay mad at a friend--even when i tried--and knowing that God's Kingdom involves reconciliation was a great comfort to me.
i think that preaching the power of the gospel is one aspect that can touch a world that has people who feel (and are) powerless. this doesn't mean that we ignore the other elements of the gospel, but meeting people where they are.
ap, thankyou, preaching the power of the gospel, I often forget that the power is in the messege not the messenger. I thought some more about this, and I remembered some experiences that Kellie and I have had with some people in our lives. I remembered that the spirit of truth is living in us and actually affects people we come in contact with. One example is a nieghbor that we had over for dinner one day. he is the type that has many different beliefs and that being good is how you get to heaven. however being good to him and being good to God are total opposites.Anyway about half way through dinner he began to tell us about some pretty personal things and after he finished he said wow I have no idea why I just said all that and then went on with his beliefs. So I think that the power of the spirit creates opportunities for us to share Gods love with people even in the "Me society in which we live today.
GOD IS SO COOL!!!
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