Unnatural Act

Forgiveness is an unnatural act.  It is unfair, but I believe it is the best way to promote reconciliation and to stop any on-going retribution.   Too often both sides want justice and feel they are totally in the right.  They do not want reconciliation.  They want revenge and justice for themselves.  They need and humbly look at their own actions. For in a broken relationship both sides are usually to be at fault in some way.

We find ourselves there many times.  Too many times we wait for the person to come to us to apologize and ask for forgiveness, and we find that they have been waiting for us to come to them.  There are too many sons who drive past their mom’s house everyday for years and refuse to stop because of some old grudge.  Both are too proud to admit they may have a part in the wrong, and are waiting for the other to apologize.  We may not be in that bad of a situation, but is there some broken relationship that needs your grace and forgiveness?

It is not just people and their relationships that are missing some grace.  Nations and people groups also seek vengeance under the guise of justice.  Many centuries have gone by and the Croats, Serbs, and their Muslim neighbors are still fighting.  And the same is true for the Israeli and Palestinian conflict.  Recently, Israel responded to Iran’s missile attacks, which was a response to Israel’s attack which was a response to ….  You get the idea.  How many people must die before there can be peace?  Can grace and forgiveness play a role?

As Christians, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-21).  Of first importance is the restoration of our relationship with God, but reconciliation with one another and with nations are also a part of the mission to heal our brokenness. God has forgiven us so very much and how can we not out of gratitude forgive others (Matthew 18:21-35)?  And how can we not share the good news of God’s love and forgiveness for us?

This unnatural act of grace and forgiveness is also needed after this contentious election.  Too many unkind words and outright lies were said.  How can we reconcile with each other and unite for the good of the nation?  Let us Christians create a gracious atmosphere where the animosities can be put aside in order to allow us to work together.

Note forgiveness is not the same as a pardon.  A forgiven person can still pay the consequences of their actions. I think of the relatives of those killed in a Bible Study in Charleston, SC in 2015 who offered forgiveness.  Pardon was not offered and the murderer was tried for the 9 deaths.  Forgiveness releases the forgiver from the need for vengeance. That is an important and necessary part of healing.

Forgiveness is an unnatural act in our broken world, instead we want justice for ourselves and what we often mean by justice is vengeance.  God has called us to think differently.  He has empowered us to be about the ministry of reconciliation.  Let us step out and graciously work to reconcile people to God and to each other.