I have a very high opinion of the Lord’s Prayer. In some liturgical traditions, the Lord’s Prayer is recited on a daily basis. Although the Lord’s Prayer is short in length, it covers a lot of territory while striking deep into some of the soulish issues that most of us wrestle with. One of those issues is that of forgiveness.
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV) When it comes to the subject of forgiveness the Key Phrase in the Lord’s Prayer is as follows: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Before anyone could object to this revolutionary idea, Jesus doubled down. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” I have looked, and studied, and pondered, and contemplated, and explored for philosophical or theological devices that would help me find a way around this truth. Surely, there must be a way to hold the people who have been adversarial to me in contempt. To hold them responsible for their actions in offending me is my first and natural human response. I am not inclined to forgive. It is unnatural. It is counterintuitive. To respond with forgiveness amounts to cutting off the oxygen to the angry fire that burns in my soul. At first, venting my frustrations and anger towards the offending party feels good…until it does not. As unforgiveness takes root in my soul, it begins to bring forth a harvest of unwanted fruit. Bitterness, resentment, anger, revenge, depression, transference to other innocent people, gossip, slander… Unforgiveness opens a Pandora’s Box of darkness in the midst of my soul. The late Carrie Fisher said this concerning resentment: “Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Wow! Let that truth sink in!! I can think of a number of reasons why practicing forgiveness makes sense: 1) Forgiveness puts out the fire that is wreaking destruction in my soul. 2) Forgiveness allows me to love and pray for my enemies. 3) Forgiveness puts me in right standing with God. 4) Forgiveness helps me control what I say and think about other people. 5) Forgiveness is a way for me to love myself. 6) Forgiveness translates into personal freedom. I could go on, but you get the point. If you want to walk in freedom, set other people free from your judgment, and next time you recite the Lord’s Prayer, take the issue of forgiving others to heart and simply do it!
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AuthorsWriting and Musing from former students and graduates of Northwest University. Archives
February 2024
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