THE PREREQUISITE FOR FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness is a common theme in the pages of scripture. This is appropriate because it is an on-going process throughout life for all us to give forgiveness and receive forgiveness. It’s not easy to forgive, but it is a requirement for all of us as we grow in our faith. C.S. Lewis poignantly said, “We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it.” In his famous sermon titled “Loving Your Enemies,” Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.”
The deficiency in the area of forgiveness has led to what is now called cancel culture. Cancel culture refers to the popular practice of withdrawing support for (canceling) public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive. (Dictionary.com, accessed August 23. 2020). In the public arena the cancel culture crowd has destroyed numerous reputations and careers. If we are honest, cancel culture is nothing new. Didn’t two brothers have issues right from the beginning? Cain literally cancelled Abel out of anger.
So, what is the cure for cancel culture as Christ-followers? Forgiveness. Jesus gives us great insight into this issue in all our lives when he said, “. . . when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25) Jesus made these comments in front of the very men who were trying to cancel him out of the culture, literally. After he spoke these words they began questioning his authority. Knowing they were looking for a comment to incriminate him, he just drops the mic and moves on. It was not the time, or the Father’s will to engage them at that moment. Their minds were made up! These words from Jesus resonate for all of us in our own personal journeys of forgiving and being forgiven.
One of my favorite authors, Max Lucado once wrote, “Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and realizing you were the prisoner!” The life lesson from Jesus we are focused on today is that if you want forgiveness, first you must give it. If you are struggling in the prison of resentment and anger due to someone who has hurt you, knock the bars down that have entrapped you and forgive them. Forgiveness leads to freedom and is not dependent on the reactions of those we forgive. It is a call to obedience connected with a promise. It leads to freedom as we walk humbly before our God!
Do you have someone you need to forgive? Pray that God gives you the courage to make peace in your heart by authentically forgiving them. Break the chains today! God has modeled this for us! The prophet Micah paints the picture of God’s active and consistent forgiveness for those He loves:
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]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.
19 You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19[/perfectpullquote]
– Pastor Chuck Reed
