This post is part of an interfaith dialogue discussing various spiritual topics from a variety of different perspectives. To read the other articles follow these links:
[Mike's Article - Buddhist] [Sojourner's Article - Pagan]. This article is written from an Evangelical Christian perspective. The question we are addressing this month is:
What role does the concept and application of interpersonal forgiveness play in your spiritual tradition?
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!
