Some Thoughts on Forgiveness

Forgiveness means just getting over it. Forgiveness means I just act like it didn't matter. Forgiveness means forgetting. Forgiveness is an event- Done once and for all. Forgiveness means I have to like you. Forgiveness is the same as Reconciliation. Forgiveness means an offender gets off with no consequence. No, No, No, No!!!!!!!!!!!! At least I don't think any of those are true. What passes for forgiveness these days many times is nothing more than declaring a cease fire while I rearm with anger and bitterness that lead me to more destruction. In the end, I really believe Forgiveness calls me beyond tolerance- To the point that I wish the best for my offender- in fact that I Love my offender- that I wish he would change- that he would repent......... and going a step farther- from Love- that I do whatever is in my power to to help him move toward repentance and wholeness. It does not mean I am soft on him or even need to like him. In fact many times I think it can mean Courageous, Loving, uncomfortable Confrontation. I think of God's forgiveness. I have wronged Him- I have betrayed Him- I have left Him so many times to go my own way. I have rebelled against Him and He has every right to vengeance- to let me suffer the consequence of my betrayal- to sit back and watch while I flounder in my own willfulness and pride all the way to my death. Ah, but that is not His nature- God is Loving- God is compassionate- God is Just and God is Forgiving. My heavenly Father has loved me so much- My friend Jesus has Loved me so much- that He has ransomed me from my captivity to sin and emptiness and hopelessness and death. I got myself into this mess, but He has by His own sacrifice offered me a way out. You might disagree with my theology here, but I believe with all my heart that the sacrifice of Christ made possible God's forgiveness to every human who has ever walked the face of this earth. That being said, forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation. Not every man accepts God's forgiveness. Not every man is reconciled to God. Many can not bring themselves to admit they have any need of forgiveness and so reconcilation is never achieved. Many- of their own volition- continue on their prideful way, evermore separated from the Father. Death has it's icy grip on their hard cold hearts and God's compassionate, loving heart breaks for them. Ezekiel 18:31-32 Rid yourselves of all offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O House of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and Live! And so it is with God's call for me to forgive. The offense did matter. The hurt was real. I am within my rights to look for justice....... but if God can forgive my offense- my betrayal- What right do I really have to hold on to my desire to get even? I can only forgive to the extent that I realize how much I have been forgiven and truly grasp what God did to satisfy justice and offer His forgiveness. My ability to forgive does not depend on the offender's sorrow. God does not forgive me because of my sorrow- He forgives because of His Love. I also am called to forgive not out of my offender's sorrow but out of God's Love in me. Sometimes wrongs end in reconciliation....... and it is a beautiful thing........... but forgiveness without reconcilation is beautiful as well. With or without reconciliation forgiveness is a key to my healing - to my wholeness- to my ability to take hold of the Life I long for- even here on this earth. My ability to forgive- to at least wish that my offender would be healed and made right- is one of the truest signs of God's Love and Life in me. It is what He has done for me. Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus said," But if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father will not forgive your sins". Father, because of Your Love in me- because of Jesus in me- I will be forgiving. Amen