To Forgive or Not

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15

“To be or not to be, that is the question.” That of course is the famous line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Having just come through the Easter season and preaching through the events in Scripture I was struck with a different version of that question: “To forgive or not forgive, that is the question.”

On the cross Jesus utters the powerful words, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing”(Luke 23:34). In doing so he raises the bar for how we are to forgive others. Think for a moment what Jesus had been through over the last week at the hands of others. Deserted by the crowd, denied by Peter, betrayed by Judas, tried illegally, beaten, spit on, mocked, sentenced to death on a cross. And not one of those things did he deserve.

Yet hanging between two criminals, in physical and emotional anguish, his thoughts go to others and he forgives those undeserving of such grace.  There is much to learn from this, but here are a couple practical truths we can apply to our everyday lives.

First, forgiveness is a choice. It is a choice based not on feelings or emotions but on conviction. Frankly, it is more than just a choice, but a command. Eph. 4:32 says: …forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. In light of the unmerited forgiveness, we ourselves have received, we are to in turn grant it to others. Furthermore, we can forgive people whether they ask for it or not. In doing so we release ourselves from the bondage of bitterness and allow healing to begin. 

Secondly, forgiveness isn’t merely an action, but rather a lifestyle. It is a character trait that should mark the life of every Christ-follower. Instead of a harsh, judgmental spirit, we are called to extend grace, compassion, kindness and forgiveness. When Jesus forgave those people on the cross, he was doing something he had been doing his entire ministry, loving and forgiving others.  It was the way he lived.

This is a big deal. In the scripture at the beginning of this missive Jesus is teaching that forgiveness of others is a non-optional aspect of a believer’s life.  That is a hard teaching. But just because it is hard, doesn’t mean we can dismiss it.
 
Here is something to chew on this week: 

A spirit of unforgiveness is incompatible with someone who has received forgiveness and mercy from God. We cannot separate receiving forgiveness from extending forgiveness.

Live on purpose,
Ron Klopfenstein