4. A Call to Forgiveness

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

We live in a culture that insists on exacting a pound of flesh.  We tell each other don’t let him or her get away with doing that to you!  We glamorize those that stand up for themselves and don’t take that crap.

The words forgive along with forgiving and forgiveness is mentioned about 240 times in the bible.  Punishment is mentioned about 30 times.  Revenge is mentioned about 80 times.  Mercy in mentioned about 590 times.  Hate occurs 220 times, while love is mentioned about 800 times.

I think it is pretty clear, we are called to forgive. As with all that we are called to do, I believe,  that Forgiveness is not passive.  The forgiveness we are called to is not a begrudging, "Alright, I forgive you."  It is robust, it is an attitude of compassion and understanding that we all have our moments, it is an act of gratitude arising out of our being forgiven for our sins. It is a recognition that we are in this together. It is understanding that we are all fallen, that in spite of our best efforts we fall short.  It in keeping our anger, our judgements, our bitterness, that it is ourselves that in the end are worse off.

Mark 11:25  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

So what is forgiveness?  It is continuing as if that which you have forgiven had not happened.  It is restoring the relationship to what it was before the incident happened.  It is recognizing that taking revenge, keeping score, returning insult for injury, is not getting even, it is impoverishing both of you.  Getting even; is restoring the other person to a right relationship with you, it is forgiving the other person and oneself.

Forgiveness is understanding that our sins are not being held against, that regardless of what we have done, or might not have done.  That we are free to come to God, regardless of our past.  That we are able to be in right relationship with God.

So who are we called to forgive?  Ourselves, each other, the doofus that cut you off in traffic this morning, the boss that keeps calling you the wrong name, that cousin that always talks to you kind of insultingly, the woman that complained about you.  We are called to forgive our enemies, those we love, our families.  We are called to live in a state of readiness to show mercy.

Ephesians 4:31 & 32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

I will return again to forgiveness, for there is much depth in this topic.