October 18, 2011 with 6 Comments

456.

Dare to Forgive

I heard about two friends who got in a tiff over words.

It started out mildly enough, but a month into it, you couldn’t get them in a same room, let alone the same county.

Facebook changes were made. Allegiances developed.

It wasn’t pretty.

The worst part was that they both claimed to be followers of Jesus Christ.

Christians are supposed to forgive. They’re supposed to love. They’re supposed to have mercy and grace and to be a little bit like Jesus.

Aren’t they?

In Romans 12:18 Paul makes an interesting statement. He says “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

I know a lot of Christians who have hung this verse on a large banner and waved it loudly each time they’ve found someone they can’t get along with.

I have a feeling Paul didn’t mean it this way.

Paul had a disagreement with a friend once. It got ugly. It was over Barnabas’ cousin Mark. A sharp contention arose and Paul and Barnabas split. But there was no personal wrong involved. There was no need for forgiveness over wrong doing in this particular case. It was simply a matter of judgement and preference. And eventually it was resolved. In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul does a 180 on Mark. I love that about Paul.

I believe Christians give up too easily.

They give up on each other. They give up on love. They give up on God’s ways.

They fail to admit their part in the wrong doing.

They fail to correctly assess what’s at stake.

They fail to remember Jesus.

Jesus didn’t wait for someone else to make the first move. He didn’t wait to be treated fairly. He didn’t hold out in the hopes that another option would present itself.

He forgave at great cost.

He gave up his self respect.

He gave up his rights.

He gave up being right.

He gave up his life.

How dare we call ourselves Christians and not be willing to do the same?

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  • Milo

    Forgiveness is hardest because we think we have to forget. what we need to forget is to get even. truly saved people have died, we have no rights, this is what we forget. forgiveness is giving up my right to take revenge and putting them in God’s righteous hands. He, the merciful God deals rightly with all men. yes, there is a need to forgive every day.
    I love the verse in Thes. He who has called you will also do it.

  • Jenn Abbatacola

    What a great blog today! Love the honesty. Vertical forgiveness does happen between a human heart and Heavenly Father when a person has been wronged even when it appears horizontal forgiveness hasn’t been granted. Repentance is an exigency in true reconciliation – always. Otherwise, people are just masquerading a relationship. Maybe that’s what happened with your friends.

  • Gina

    Morning great post.my bestfriend ticked me off so bad years ago.I stopped talking to her.no way I would go over there.she apologized years later.still I wouldn’t hear of it.missed her and her kids.I realized what a huge jerk I was being too.we both were wrong and cried
    Now I have to drive 4 hours to see them.but its worth it.:) there is a Huge pink blimp in the air right now .if your in this area check it out!

  • Gina

    Hi, Lecture great heart felt.I never wrote down so many things. Team Gere/Brown. Jennine you were missed. My thoughts, prayers are with you and your family at this time.your group.me

  • Amber

    I’m so willing to give up everything to God! I find myself willing to trust God in faith with more in my life then ever. Life is hard for my family right now, but I have this faith, trust and peace that God is going to work everything out. God for gave me freely and I’m so willing to give him everything know matter what it is. He can even have my parents I freely give them up.

  • http://kentostby.com Kent

    The answer to “how can we” is the same answer to “how can we disobey a loving God at any time?”

    The answer is pride.

    Pride and self-centeredness is at the root of all sin.

    Hence the reason we must die to self each day.