Forgive? No way!

Yesterday as I got my lunch at a Subway the Toronto Sun was lying on the table with a headline that caught my attention.  There was a picture of Osama Bin Laden and the words “Rot in Hell” angrily written across the page.  I am sure that many of you saw the pictures of people celebrating outside of the White House as if someone had won the stanley cup.  It just so happened that on the same Sunday Osama Bin Laden was captured and killed we sat through a wonderful family Service which reminded us of the importance of forgiveness.  And so the question that has been on my mind is simply, as followers of Christ, where do we draw the line when it comes to forgiveness? Should we forgive Bin Laden, or any number of evil people who carry out horrendous acts on the innocent?  I don’t need to remind you that Someone asked Jesus that very question (Mt.18).  Peter asked how many times should I forgive?  Jesus told him clearly that there should be no limit to the forgiveness that we extend to others.  If you were at Compass Point on Sunday you heard that…we know that…but…

Its not surprising that many people walked away from Jesus saying that his teachings were too difficult to follow.  We know that Jesus of course was the great example of “strange” forgiveness.  I came across an interesting phrase as I was preparing for our college aged Bible Study tonight.  As followers of Jesus; Forgiveness reigns.  Grace conquers.  Thats great news for those of us who are feeling down about where we stand in relation to God, but while I can certainly celebrate this in my own life, I have a hard time applying the principle across the board.  If forgiveness truly reigns, then who in my life should be exempt from it?  probably no one.

The more I think about this, the harder it gets for me to wrap my head around forgiveness, but what if forgiveness is more about the person who is offering, than it is about the one receiving? We all know from experience that holding on to grudges and pain, and resentment keeps us from living joyfully, but I think that there is also something deeper going on.

Why did Jesus say “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you, but if you don’t forgive men their sins your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Mt.6:14-15) This is one of those “Ahhw Man!” passages, where we cringe, or read it really fast and move on, pretending that it didn’t say what we think it said, but what if forgiveness showed a lack of faith.  Somehow we hold on to our hurt because we don’t trust that God is a God of justice.  We think that we need to hold on to the resentment because we deserve to enact retribution, and one day we will make it right.  (pay back).  Do I trust in the justice of God?  Do I believe that vengeance has a bigger impact on my life than it does on the offender?

I’m not perfect, I can’t forgive the way that Jesus did, but if forgiveness is for my benefit that wouldn’t it be easier to forgive? I don’t think that forgiveness means that the offender is without blame, it just means that we decide that the offence will not hold us captive and keep us from living joyfully, and ultimately …well.  Following after Jesus is not easy, and at times its downright confusing but if forgiving people helps make me right with God than maybe I should give it a shot.