This may be one of the hardest petitions of the Disciple’s Prayer for me to write on. I like to believe that I am a very forgiving person, but who do I need to forgive? Who has done me wrong? There are always the little selfish things people do that are easily forgiven, but there is really no major offense committed against me that I can even think of to forgive!

It is often useful in defining an idea to think of its opposite.

What is the opposite of forgiveness? To not forgive is to harbor feelings of self-righteousness which lead us to think of another’s actions as less deserving of blessing than my own.

Think about it. Jesus Christ forgave. Though our actions and every inclination of our heart was against him, he did not give us what he considered (in his infinite and perfect wisdom and knowledge!) to be deserving of our sin.

He is God; his character itself is defined by what brings glory to him. He certainly is perfect and recognizes that we are failed and miserable sinners and rightly excludes us from his presence in our sin. And yet in his forgiveness he seperates that sin as far as the East is from the West. This is not a contradiction; it is a paradox.

In his consideration of humanity his sacrificial loving person can only reflect on what he has done for his church. The judgement and wrath that is demonstrated in scripture time and again on his people for their rebeliousness and their sin is a suffering that he himself takes part in on the cross! You see, in his justice he must recognize our sin, but in his loving mercy he does not consider himself, eternal all-powerful God, to be too righteouss to suffer the same consequences that we merit. Because his definition of righteousness is not ours.

The scripture says that he became sin for us. This means that he did not do that which was ‘unjust’ in punishing his innocent son. Rather he made his son to be worthy of the punishment by making him a man and making him sin for us–all the while remaining perfect loving God!! For how could he take on our sin if he had sin of his own to bear!?

And this is forgiveness: such utter humility that even perfection regards itself not, rather looking upon the sin of another and destroying the sting through its own humble suffering for the other.

Forgiveness can be such a source of self-righteousness–that feeling that I have done what I should, and now on that basis am all right–because we see it as such a technicality. Even if we know that forgiveness must be from the heart, a total erasing from our mental and emotional account books the wrong of another, we only do so concerning particular acts or situations.

No, forgiveness is a perspective. It is the perspective that regards the sin of another as one’s own and seeks for its resolution. It regards the weeker faith of a brother or sister as the weaker faith of one’s own self and seeks to strengthen it. It sees the blindnesses and prejudices and shortcomings as those of one’s own self and seeks to gently prod the brother or sister into that uncomfortable but blesses state of repentence, all the while willing and ready to bear the burden of the consequences of those sins with them.

Have I ever forgiven? How many times do I encounter the brother or sister who sins against me simply by not considering me more highly than themselves or by inadvertantly using me for their own comfort or satisfaction? How often do we all talk to someone only to hear ourselves or make us feel important? Are not all these things selfish and sinful at heart? Are they not stealing from the brother or sister love and care that we could be showing them if we would lose sight of the self and be consumed in the love of God for them?

And what is my response to these people? Is it that of forgiveness? Do I recognize the self-centeredness, but consider that bit of selfishness to be my own insofar as I conquer it by sacrificing myself for the other’s need? This is true forgiveness, a life being poured out to fill the void caused by sin, regardless of how far along God has brought you through your own sanctification!

Oh, wait a minute, sancitification…that is what forgiveness is! It’s God’s character of love, so in living the forgiving perspective we become more like him through the forgiveness that he is, the life that he lives, the communion that he longs to share with you. It is what he has already given to you. So live it!