While studying the act of forgiveness I knew there would be aspects I hadn’t considered before. Some of these things I’ve discussed in past articles in this series. I also knew I would be writing and studying a lot about how we all need forgiveness and how we all need to offer it, even to those that don’t ask for it. But one question that I knew would be hard for me when considering forgiveness that I’m going to talk about today is this:
Do we owe forgiveness to those who we think don’t deserve it?
Murderers? Rapists? Pedophiles? Liars? Adulterers? Child Abusers?
There’s so many I could list here, but I think you know what I mean.
There are people in this world that sometimes do very hurtful and damaging things to us or the people we love and care about. They are things that leave scars on our hearts, even if those scars are not visible. These acts can lessen our faith in people and make us question EVERYONE'S motives around us. As the human race, children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ, we can inflict unimaginable pain on each other. Pain that can motivate us to harden our hearts and deny forgiveness to our violators. Pain that can cause us to forget, that we’re created by a God who loves everyone; mistakes and all.
I’m reminded of a man named Stephen, the first martyr of the church. The story of his murder is told in the book of Acts chapter 7. Stephen was recounting how God, through history, had worked with the Jewish people in spite of their inability to stay faithful to Him. He told the stories of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses and narrates the gift of God’s work of salvation in their country, and for a while, his audience was satisfied with what they were hearing. But only for a while.
You see, it was one thing for these folks to agree that idolatry was a problem for their people, IN THE PAST. But when Stephen started ACCUSING THEM of the same idolatry IN THE PRESENT…well all hell broke loose.
STEPHEN: “You stubborn, stiff-necked people! Sure, you are physically Jews, but you are no different from outsiders in your hearts and ears! You are just like your ancestors, constantly fighting against the Holy Spirit. Didn’t your ancestors persecute the prophets? First, they killed those prophets who predicted the coming of the Just One; and now, you have betrayed and murdered the Just One Himself! Yes, you received the law as given by heavenly messengers, but you haven’t kept the law which you received.”
--Acts 7:51-53 (VOICE)
At these words the crowd could no longer control their anger. Their rage and fury directed at Stephen was palpable and it wasn’t going to take much more until they turned their mind to murder. It was in this moment that Stephen looked to the heavens and saw something no one else could. He declared with a shout that he could see the glory of God, and Jesus Christ standing at God’s right hand. At this the people covered their ears and started shouting. Then they rushed Stephen, dragging him out of the city where they would each pick up rocks and stone him to death.
In the middle of this murderous storm, when rocks rained down on Stephen with deadly force, you could hear him shout:
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Then he knelt in prayer and shouted even louder, “Lord, do not hold this evil against them!”
Those were his final words; then he fell asleep in death.
--Acts 7: 57-60 (VOICE)
In Stephen’s story, it’s easy to see the frailty of the human condition and capability of us all to do something truly horrifying under the right circumstances. I’m sure most of us would say that we wouldn’t kill someone over their opinion or religious beliefs, no matter what. Times have changed, right? Things today aren’t like they were in the past.
Perhaps that’s true.
But what if it was someone that murdered or raped a person you cared about? What if it was someone who cheated on you? What if it was someone who abused you physically or emotionally? What if it was someone who hurt a child?
Could you forgive? Could you hold back your rage and anger?
It’s a tough question, isn’t it?
I wish I had an answer for people in these situations that would make the act of forgiveness seem not necessarily easy….but purposeful and important…necessary…because in truth, it is. Unfortunately, I find my answers are few.
What I do feel charged to do though, is to offer a reminder. Try and remember that in God’s eyes, sin is sin. There is not one sin that holds greater weight to God than another. That’s not to say that He doesn’t account for our pain and suffering depending on the iniquity. But by viewing everyone’s sin as the same, salvation and forgiveness becomes available for all.
We’re all guilty of something…I’ve said this before.
So when I find myself asking the question, “Do I owe forgiveness to those who I think don’t deserve it?” I remind myself that I am no better than anyone else, and that my sin looks just like everyone else’s in the sight of God. So maybe the better question I should be asking myself, (we all should be asking ourselves) is do I deserve forgiveness for my sin by those I’ve hurt?
My answer and hope is, yes. If your answer is the same, than we both owe forgiveness to those who we think don’t deserve it.
Question answered.
