Latest Pastoral Letter
Forgiveness? You must be joking!
Forgiveness can be defined as “ceasing to blame or granting a pardon for a mistake”. It’s a concept that many, myself included, find difficult to put into practice.
For example: the theft of lead from St. Peter’s roof on three occasions. How can you cease to blame or grant a pardon to those who have not even been caught yet? It’s true that forgiveness is not the first response that comes to mind, but it must be part of the bigger picture. There are two sorts of law involved – the criminal law and God’s law. There are also four individuals or groups of people involved – the perpetrator(s), the judiciary, the victim(s) and God. Lead thieves have broken the law of the land and if caught will be punished via the judiciary process, and rightly so. But they have also broken one of the ten commandments. What should the church’s attitude (and mine in particular) be towards the thieves?
Jesus taught us that when we ask for our own sins to be forgiven (The Lord’s Prayer & Matthew 6v.9-13) we must also forgive those who sin against us. He emphasised that in the same passage with these words, “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 sin your Father will not forgive your sins.” (v.14,15 of the same chapter).
Many people who get sent to prison are not worried about their sins being forgiven. They have been caught and punished and that’s the end of it they might think. But it’s only a third of the job done – there are still the victim(s) and God to be considered.
From God’s point of view forgiveness is “on the table” – it’s guaranteed. Why? Because Jesus took the punishment we deserve when he died on the cross. The debt for our sins – everyone’s sins – was paid through his sacrifice on our behalf. Of course it only becomes a living reality when we acknowledge our faults, repent, and accept what Jesus has done for us vicariously. The forgiveness is there waiting to be claimed, as it were, but like an invitation to a party an RSVP is required. And we the victims – the congregation and wider community – should also have the same mindset as outlined by Jesus.
Many of us might have been deeply hurt by others at some time in our lives and still bear the scars of that, and feel we could never forgive the perpetrators. This is very understandable, but actually we’re probably hurting ourselves more than hurting them by that attitude. Bearing grudges and unforgiveness can cause mental and physical illness, depression, and more besides. If this is true for you ask God to help you forgive and not hold on to the hurt you, or maybe someone close to you, have experienced. Look to the possibilities for the future rather than be locked into the past.
So – do I forgive the lead thieves? Yes, but they also have a prison sentence to serve, an apology to give, and, most importantly, they need to ask for God’s forgiveness. We also need to make sure we ask for forgiveness from God, and forgive others who have hurt us, however hard that may be.
May God bless you.
Mike
Prayer for this month
Prayer (from Psalm 141)
O Lord, hear us when we talk to you; may our prayers rise up like incence before you. Lord, set a guard over what we say and keep watch over the door of our lips. Don’t let our hearts be drawn to what is evil. Help us to take notice of well-meaning correction from those we respect. Above all keep our eyes fixed on you, or you alone are able to protect us. For your names sake. Amen.
Verse for 2012
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews Ch.12 v.1’2a)
