Forgiving the Unforgivable
Let me be upfront, I am not a proponent of the death penalty. However, there have been a few times when I have seen a horrific crime in the news and considered the possibility that in this person’s case maybe an exception to my stance should apply. Which leads to the question – what is unforgivable and how do you forgive it?
I can’t speak from personal experience. No one has hurt or offended me in a way that is remotely close to being unforgivable. But, I know that many people in my circle of friends, family, co-workers and community members have been terribly violated and debased by another human being.
There is nothing I can say in a short devotional like this that would resolve the problem, bring healing and break out the butterflies, unicorns and rainbows. Pain is painful. And, acknowledging that is vital if one is going to go down the path of forgiveness. There is a part of me that prefers the idea of revenge as a method to deal with pain and betrayal. Vengeance just seems so much easier and satisfying. And, it probably is, at least in the short term. But, over time it will just escalate all the issues and rot your soul.
So, we need to acknowledge our pain and the damage that it has done. Even more painful is the fact that those who have hurt us may not have even have the slightest bit of remorse or even acknowledgment of the hurt. As difficult as it would be to forgive a terrible wrong, it is even more difficult in the face of denial or lack of repentance by the other person. And, yet somehow, someway if we are to be healed and released from the full impact of that wrong, we must forgive.
So, forgiveness of any wrong – unforgivable or not – is critical to our own freedom from the damage done and it is an opportunity for the offender to also be freed. Whether they take it or not is up to them and not yours to hang on to. Forgiveness is not always easy, but it is necessary.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. – Colossians 3:12-14
See you this Sunday at The Sunday Gathering. As usual 10:30am – Food and Friends and 11:00am – Worship and Inspiration
– Kevin.