If you examine "mere Christianity," beyond all of the religious trappings different groups place upon it like ill-fitted clothing, what you find at its center is a spiritual system that is primarily concerned with relationships. These relationships happen at two basic levels: the relationship between God and people, and the relationships that exist between people. This core of relationships forms the basic ground for the ethical system we call morality. Christians recognize that often people simply do not live up to the terms of their relationships, and at its most basic level, this is what is meant by saying that something is "immoral." Christian theology in fact, goes a step further, and argues that a tendency towards these immoral acts exists for all of us. It also insists that there are consequences for choosing to live in an immoral way. Immorality (so defined) is simply not healthy on an individual level, on a social level, or on a spiritual level. All broken relationships are painful, certain eternally broken relationships are quite literally hell.
Because of these philosophical underpinnings, the concept of forgiveness is central to Christian faith and practice, and this forgiveness needs to happen on two levels in oppostie directions. First, people need to experience forgiveness from God, and then people need to extend forgiveness to other people. A sceptic may at this point wave the red flag and shout: "When did I ever do anything against God that requires his forgiveness?" One way to explain the logic of this claim is as follows: Assuming God exists, and that there is a moral law in the universe, it follows that the moral law must in some way reflect both God's will and his character. If God were to create moral agents (i.e. human beings) part of the expectation he would have for them in their creation would be that they would live in the way he desires. That would be part of the terms of our relationship with our Creator. Since we all know that we have failed in some way, that means that we are all in need of forgiveness from God.
God provides the opportunity for forgiveness through what Jesus did on Good Friday just under 2000 years ago. I do not have time in this brief article to explain the entire doctrine of atonement, but indeed it could be summarized simply by some of Jesus' last words on the cross "Father, forgive them, they know not what they are doing." A basic statement of the doctrine is that God designed for Jesus to take the penalty for our sin on the cross, so that whoever places their trust (faith) in Jesus will experience true forgiveness and a renewed relationship with God. Jesus can accomplish this because he was both the only man who never morally failed, and simultaneously he has a unique relationship with the Father: he is God the Son.
Jesus tells the story of a man who was forgiven a debt of millions of dollars by a powerful and influential leader. The man then goes out and demands payment of a ten dollar debt from a buddy of his. When the friend is unable to pay, the man has his friend thrown in jail. You can imagine how the influential leader would respond when he hears how this man treated his friend. Jesus, when he teaches his followers how to pray insists that they ask God "to forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors."
To a Christian, forgiving others should be the grateful and natural result of having accepted the generous forgiveness that God has given them. The process of Christian forgiveness includes confronting offenses that one experiences in relationship, extending forgiveness as people come to an understanding of their error, and allowing trust to be rebuilt over time. Beyond that, even if other people are not ever ultimately sorry for their actions, a Christian has no grounds for revenge, judgment is left in God's hands. This high standard of forgiveness is firmly grounded on the what a Christian has experienced in their relationship with God.
Forgiveness is indeed the central experience and practice of Christianity. Furthermore, as Phillip Yancy claims, it is in fact a good example of a miracle - an supernaural act. What a wonderful miracle to celebrate this Holy Week!
God provides the opportunity for forgiveness through what Jesus did on Good Friday just under 2000 years ago. I do not have time in this brief article to explain the entire doctrine of atonement, but indeed it could be summarized simply by some of Jesus' last words on the cross "Father, forgive them, they know not what they are doing." A basic statement of the doctrine is that God designed for Jesus to take the penalty for our sin on the cross, so that whoever places their trust (faith) in Jesus will experience true forgiveness and a renewed relationship with God. Jesus can accomplish this because he was both the only man who never morally failed, and simultaneously he has a unique relationship with the Father: he is God the Son.
Jesus tells the story of a man who was forgiven a debt of millions of dollars by a powerful and influential leader. The man then goes out and demands payment of a ten dollar debt from a buddy of his. When the friend is unable to pay, the man has his friend thrown in jail. You can imagine how the influential leader would respond when he hears how this man treated his friend. Jesus, when he teaches his followers how to pray insists that they ask God "to forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors."
To a Christian, forgiving others should be the grateful and natural result of having accepted the generous forgiveness that God has given them. The process of Christian forgiveness includes confronting offenses that one experiences in relationship, extending forgiveness as people come to an understanding of their error, and allowing trust to be rebuilt over time. Beyond that, even if other people are not ever ultimately sorry for their actions, a Christian has no grounds for revenge, judgment is left in God's hands. This high standard of forgiveness is firmly grounded on the what a Christian has experienced in their relationship with God.
Forgiveness is indeed the central experience and practice of Christianity. Furthermore, as Phillip Yancy claims, it is in fact a good example of a miracle - an supernaural act. What a wonderful miracle to celebrate this Holy Week!
4 comments:
Hey Jon -- this piece describes quite clearly the "Mere Christianity" view of forgiveness. I think we've finally found a topic which all of our traditions agree on the practical importance of forgiveness. Of course, the underlying philosophy differs between our faiths as to the basis of the act of forgiveness, but that is to be expected.
One of the primary differences arises in that in the Christian view, forgiveness is necessarily integral to the relationship between Creator and Created, given that the Created has an innate tendency to fail to live morally (i.e. not live up to the terms of the Relationship).
In contrast, Buddhist wisdom observes that beings are innately Pure and Perfect, and we obscure that pureness because of the karmic seeds of anger, greed, and delusion that we have planted in the past. Thus, we see any tendency toward unethical actions as NOT innate, but as an impermanent condition that is the result of past causes; one which we can FULLY OVERCOME and thereby reclaim our Pure, Radiant Nature.
So while forgiveness plays a central role in all of Christianity, as the heart of the relationship between God and Man, it also plays a central role in Buddhism, but as a path practice that benefits all beings by emphasizing the wonderful qualities of love, compassion, and humility, while unearthing the poisons of greed, anger, and Ego.
Mike,
I am sensing another topic for a blog post at some point. The Christian observation of the world would argue that to say we are innately Pure and Perfect simply could not be more incorrect. It fascinates me that it seems everywhere Buddhism and Christianity draw close together in conclusion, it is at those points that their reasoning is farthest apart. Thanks so much for the comment. I will comment on your article sometime in the next few weeks. I am particularly curious why forgiveness is seen as so important to Buddhists when it is peripheral (at best) philosophically to them.
Jon wrote: I am particularly curious why forgiveness is seen as so important to Buddhists when it is peripheral (at best) philosophically to them.
I consider the answer to this question in the second half of my essay, but in short, Buddhism is a path, not a doctrinal religion. As such, it is only the benefits of a practice that define its importance to any one person, not its philosophical ground. A good example are the various kinds of meditation practice existing in Buddhist traditions. There is concentration on the breath, contemplation of koans, contemplation of hwadu, loving-kindness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation upon death, etc. There is no universal doctrine that says, "You must meditate on loving-kindness in order to progress spiritually." Rather, we must use the practices that work the best for us on the path. I might already exhibit a strong degree of loving-kindness in my life, but maybe I lack focus, so concentration is the ideal practice for me. For someone who struggles with showing compassion, perhaps contemplation of loving-kindness is a better primary practice.
And here is where the strength of a path becomes evident. Practices that otherwise have zero philosophical basis in a tradition may still be beneficial for other reasons to a practitioner. Consider prayer. In Buddhism, we have no creator god to which to pray. However, prayer is a practice that can still be beneficial to Buddhists. A wonderful example in the May 2007 issue of Shambhala Sun magazine instructs that before opening a new email, one can center oneself by pausing, and reciting a gatha, such as, "May I open this email and respond for the benefit of myself and for all beings." We are not asking for divine assistance in this action--there is none to be had. Rather, we are opening our hearts and our minds to loving-kindness and compassion. Through such, we can ensure that we will read and respond to this person with a mind steeped in compassion and love rather than the scattered, unfocused mindset that is often the result of the rush of everyday life. Prayer has no philosophical ground in Buddhism, as Western apologetics would say. But it has a solid ground on Eastern religious paths in that its practice results in many effects that are easily seen to be beneficial to the path we follow.
Mike,
I appreciate our continued dialogue on this topic, which obviously will need to happen more in person than on the blog. Christianity is both a path (it is called the WAY) and it is obviously a doctrinal religion, so I do understand to a degree what you are saying. However, if particular practices prove to be helpful in your Buddhist spiritual development, and they are not philosophically included in Buddhism, or antithetical to your Buddhist philosophy, it would raise series "doctrinal" questions questions for your belief system. In Christianity we affirm that there can be elements of wisdom in other religious systems, however, there is nothing necessary for SALVATION (our main goal - like your goal of enlightenment)that would be left out of the Scriptures.
Post a Comment