For those who
are Christian the idea of forgiveness should not be a foreign concept,
intellectually or practically. In fact, it should be at the forefront of our
minds and actions daily because it is that often we should be reflecting on
Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that actually achieved the forgiveness of our
sins. Perhaps stated most simply, we Christians have been forgiven so great a
debt we should always be quick forgivers.
In
Matthew 18:21-22 the Bible recounts Peter asking Jesus this question: “Lord,
how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
(ESV). And Jesus responded with: “I do not say to you seven times, but
seventy-seven times” (ESV). That is a lot! Most people could not extend
forgiveness to the same person seventy-seven times a day and after the second
or third time they would write the other person off and say something like,
“I’m not getting burned again!” Knowing myself I would probably be such a one. But
I’m not supposed to be. None of us are. Those who have been forgiven so great a
debt should always be quick forgivers—not simply seventy-seven times per day,
but a limitless amount of times. When sincere, genuine forgiveness is sought,
Christians should oblige.
Practicing forgiveness, though, is
not easy. The main reason is because it involves a strong dose of humility. When
someone has truly wronged you, hurt you, or gotten over on you, to let that go
and forget about it entails thinking a little less about one’s self. This is
not to imply self-loathing, simply that it necessitates that we as individuals be
consciously aware that we are not the center of the world. When done wrong our first thoughts are “how
dare they do that to me!” The focus is on “me.” And one can easily see the
pride that is weaved into such a statement.
The best mindset in such instances
is to remember what the Bible teaches about humanity. We are all sinners. We
are all in need of forgiveness. And that forgiveness should not stop with us.
It is something we should pass on, even in the most difficult circumstances. Christians
do not have to be doormats that are walked upon daily nor do we have to
continually put ourselves in positions where we are constantly being harmfully
taken advantage. But in day-to-day life we should not hold grudges or
intentionally allow hostility between others and ourselves that could be
diminished if we stepped up and offered forgiveness. Again, it is not easy
because it takes a little humility to do such a thing, but it is the right
thing.
Practicing forgiveness is also good
for the soul. And what I mean by this is that it feels good. As odd as it
sounds when we humble ourselves a notch, look over a hurt we have been caused,
and extend a clean slate to someone, so to speak—in that moment we are truly
living as Jesus would have us to live. There is something powerful about that.
When a person is lined up perfectly with godly living there is joy like no
other time. Practicing forgiveness can give that. Put another way—it is
liberating because it frees one from the bondage of bad memory, thoughts of
revenge, even hurt. These are good for the soul. Forgiveness should certainly be characteristic
of the Christian and I hope everyone reading this can embrace it, myself
included.
