17 August 2008
View Part 1: A Definition of Forgiveness - Undeserved Love
Yesterday I explained how forgiveness can't be earned through persuasion, or bought through effort. Only the person who has been offended can place a value on the hurt. Forgiveness is offered only as undeserved love.
Let's extend the definition begun yesterday:
Forgiveness is: undeserved love, to guilty offenders.
Forgiveness is only ever required in situations where someone has hurt someone else, whether intentionally, or deliberately. In most human situations, it is obvious who has caused the offence, and forgiveness is usually granted as a response to the apologetic offender asking for it.
For example, in the school playground, the offender could be the mischievous freckled boy, who fancies the girl with pigtails, but ends up making her cry by tugging rather too sharply on them. In his desire to be friends again (and probably encouraged by the teacher), the boy rather sheepishly approaches her (once the teacher has calmed her down, and mopped up her tears) and says "I'm very sorry, please forgive me." Five minutes later, he's made her cry again by kicking dust in her eyes...
Sometimes forgiveness can be taken forgranted. And other times I can't see even see why forgiveness needs to be sought. Both cases are a result of me assuming the world only works in the way I want it to. The boy is reluctant to apologise because in his eyes, pulling the pigtails was just a bit of fun. And he upsets the girl again so soon after, because he didn't really see a genuine need for forgiveness in the first place.
Trusting our own blinkered vision is a sure route to disaster when it comes to us and God. The Bible says a great offence has been caused by us directly against God:
Unfortunately, this seemingly logical viewpoint ('I own myself - therefore I can choose what I do with myself') comes from a limited, blinkered, and flawed perspective. God says we owe him everything - he created us, and so we actually belong to him. We owe him respect, honour, recognition and allegiance. Therefore, in reality we are naturally guilty, for failing to fulfil our true purpose as humans. We're the guilty offenders in need of forgiveness.
It makes no difference if I don't think I've wronged God, or if I can't imagine that the way I've lived my life is a stinking offence to him. The fact is, God rules this universe because he made it, and he says clearly, we've turned away and have become worthless.
Understanding true forgiveness hinges on whether we understand the true offence we've caused God. If we don't recognise our sin, we won't see a need to be forgiven, and the Bible says that road leads to death and separation from God and all his goodness.
The true beauty in the message of the Bible is that despite our naturally guilty and rebellious hearts, God is willing to forgive. So willing in fact, that he gave up to death and separation, his only, much loved Son Jesus. Only then could he offer utter forgiveness, without compromising his perfect justice.
For example, in the school playground, the offender could be the mischievous freckled boy, who fancies the girl with pigtails, but ends up making her cry by tugging rather too sharply on them. In his desire to be friends again (and probably encouraged by the teacher), the boy rather sheepishly approaches her (once the teacher has calmed her down, and mopped up her tears) and says "I'm very sorry, please forgive me." Five minutes later, he's made her cry again by kicking dust in her eyes...
Sometimes forgiveness can be taken forgranted. And other times I can't see even see why forgiveness needs to be sought. Both cases are a result of me assuming the world only works in the way I want it to. The boy is reluctant to apologise because in his eyes, pulling the pigtails was just a bit of fun. And he upsets the girl again so soon after, because he didn't really see a genuine need for forgiveness in the first place.
Trusting our own blinkered vision is a sure route to disaster when it comes to us and God. The Bible says a great offence has been caused by us directly against God:
There is no one righteous, not even one;Romans 3:10-12 (NIV)From my default point of view, in the society I live in, there is nothing wrong with (in fact I'm encouraged to be) living life 'looking after number 1'. 'It's my life, my body, my time, my choices' - so I can spend my money how I want, hang out with the people I want to, express my opinion, and to hell with anyone who tells me otherwise.
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one
Unfortunately, this seemingly logical viewpoint ('I own myself - therefore I can choose what I do with myself') comes from a limited, blinkered, and flawed perspective. God says we owe him everything - he created us, and so we actually belong to him. We owe him respect, honour, recognition and allegiance. Therefore, in reality we are naturally guilty, for failing to fulfil our true purpose as humans. We're the guilty offenders in need of forgiveness.
It makes no difference if I don't think I've wronged God, or if I can't imagine that the way I've lived my life is a stinking offence to him. The fact is, God rules this universe because he made it, and he says clearly, we've turned away and have become worthless.
Understanding true forgiveness hinges on whether we understand the true offence we've caused God. If we don't recognise our sin, we won't see a need to be forgiven, and the Bible says that road leads to death and separation from God and all his goodness.
The true beauty in the message of the Bible is that despite our naturally guilty and rebellious hearts, God is willing to forgive. So willing in fact, that he gave up to death and separation, his only, much loved Son Jesus. Only then could he offer utter forgiveness, without compromising his perfect justice.
