Does it really say THAT!?!?

This morning’s Bible reading was the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapter 5-7.

I just finished reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. The author builds his premise on a foundation of knowing the real God of the Universe, and just how BIG and POWERFUL and WONDERFUL He is. He puts our puny human existence in stark contrast to that huge image of God, then sets about the task of explaining what it is God wants of us.

In short, he takes the teachings of Jesus quite literally when He says to love your enemies, care for the poor, take up your cross daily…

So, I started reading Jesus’ teachings with this new perspective, not wanting the watered-down version that has been spoon fed from American churches my entire life. I figured the best place to start would be at the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Sermon on the Mount.

I was absorbing these teachings in a deeper way until I got to Chapter 6, verses 14 & 15. Jesus had just taught them how to pray, and had recited the so-called “Lord’s Prayer”. Then He says: “For 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 Father will not forgive your sins.”

Ouch. It’s not just some nice words expressing a philosophic sentiment – He MEANS IT! To forgive those who wrong you is counter to everything that is human. It takes a divine nature to be able to forgive. Indeed, it takes God within you to be able to forgive.

Bill Gothard said that unwillingness to forgive will plant a seed of bitterness in you that eventually destroys your unforgiving heart. In other words, one of the chief reasons to forgive someone is to protect the health of your own heart – not just for the other person.

Howard Hendricks taught that forgiveness is not based on the worth of the recipient, but on the character of the giver. God’s forgiveness of our sins is not based on our own merit, as if we deserved to be forgiven. The opposite is true… if we merited forgiveness, there would be nothing to forgive! No, God’s forgiveness of our sins is based on His love for us, His mercy and compassion. That is what Jesus is telling us to do. Forgive them specifically because they don’t deserve it. “THAT’S CRAZY” you say? That is exactly right (from a human perspective), and the whole message behind the “Crazy Love” book.

Pauls writes in 1 Corinthians chapter 1: “18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”

So, do I think forgiveness is foolishness (which puts me in direct opposition to God) or do I submit to God’s authority, swallow my pride and hurt feelings, and in faith – forgive those who wrong me? I believe this is one of the toughest steps in our growth toward “Christ-like-ness” as Christians.

May God strenghten us to be able to forgive others, and in so doing, cure us of any bitterness and resentment in our lives.

Haole Boy

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