Forgiveness can be a controversial subject, for a large number of reasons.  History shows that when marginalized people forgive the wrongdoings of those in power, they often remain oppressed.  That’s evident in the case of those who have been enslaved, abused women, and religious minorities.  In these cases, forgiveness seems to enable injustice.

 

All the same, a world where the restorative presence of forgiveness is absent is a world marked by violence, alienation, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness.  Historical examples range from the deadly feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys to the widespread failure of punitive justice to help those addicted to illegal substances.

 

So it seems that while we know that forgiveness is necessary for peace and flourishing, it can also be a practice that can actually cause evil to continue.  So what’s the answer to this apparent conundrum?

 

The answer is The Gospel.  The forgiveness that begins with the vertical dimension – man’s relationship to God – is the key to putting forgiveness into practice in our human relationships.  The key to understanding the power of forgiveness is to understand its link to repentance.

 

The Gospel message is that when a sinner admits his guilt and turns away from their Sin and turns toward God, they are freely and fully forgiven.  One way of understanding forgiveness is to link it to the concept of debt.  When we are forgiven of a debt, those to whom we owe money no longer hold us accountable to pay it off.  The cost of the debt is absorbed by the lender and they are on even terms.  When God forgives sin, he no longer holds that sin against the sinner.  God absorbs the cost of the sin in himself – this is one of the things that happened on the Cross of Christ.  This then creates a reconciled relationship, one in which they can flourish in peace and purpose.  This is the “Release” of forgiveness.

 

But that same “release” is “redemptive.”  In God’s forgiveness of our sin, the act of forgiveness actually takes what was harmful and turns it to good use, making it redemptive.  It frees us from the oppressiveness of guilt, shame, and denial and compels us to pursue love, peace, and goodwill.  Let me give you one example.

 

When I was in Massachusetts, I met a man whose son had been brutally murdered in a senseless act of violence.  The murderer was tried and convicted.  Prior to the incident, the father had come to faith in Christ when he realized the magnitude of his own sins and sought God’s forgiveness.  So in the face of this tragic loss, the father pursued a reconciliation with his son’s murderer.  Visiting him in prison, he forged a relationship and forgiveness was requested and granted.  Today the man once convicted of murder is a productive member of society and regularly gives back.

 

This is an example of redemptive release.  Godly forgiveness can be a mighty force for good.  It can not only prevent the spread of more evil in the future, forgiveness is the fuel for incredible good.  It turns the addict into an agent of healing, the miser into a benefactor, the oppressor into a servant and the oppressed into a just ruler.  

 

Good News!  That’s God’s goal in his forgiveness that he freely offers to YOU.  God’s goal is to erase your wrongs and empower you to a right relationship – to God and your neighbor.

 

Join us this Lenten Season as I preach on the subject of forgiveness – God’s Redemptive Release.

Pastor Ryan

 

God is Good, All the Time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THEREFORE

 

In 1954, the psychologist James Olds made a few ordinary rats the happiest rodents that had
ever lived. How?

 

He had directly wired an electrode into the rats’ brains, plugging into the septal area. The rats
seemed to enjoy it, so Olds gave them a lever: when pushed, it would turn on the electrode. The
rats quickly learned how it worked, and they had a fantastic time with it. Some of the rats would
giddily push the lever 2,000 times per hour for 24 hours straight.

 

Recently, scientists began to apply this research to human beings. Through non-invasive
means, they have found how to stimulate this region of our brains. How? It happens through
the presence (or simulated presence) of another person and the sounds of their movement and
voice. It requires an “emotional element,” which leaves the viewer feeling “safe, and warm, and
loved.”

 

Good News! Long before researchers discovered this, God the Grand Designer provided it.
How? That’s the Message of the Bible, summarized in the book of Romans.

 

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ
died for us.” (Romans 5:8, New International Version)

 

In other words, the power for Christian living comes from the Mercy of our Maker. It’s the source
of strength for living the life God has designed for you and me. And this design is described in
Romans chapter 12. I call it the great THEREFORE. This comes from the first few words of
verse 1:

 

 

Romans chapter 12 goes on to summarize what God’s design entails. In other words, what
does God’s great love produce? It’s nothing mysterious, nothing magical. In fact, it’s both
logical and intuitive. In a word, Love. Great love begets great love. It’s what empowers us to
fulfill what Jesus called the Great Commandment taught to us by Jesus:

 

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Luke 10:27)

 

What does it mean to be a Christian? Ask anyone you meet, and you’ll probably get a different
answer every time. But God gives us an answer in one chapter: Romans 12.

 

For the first four weeks of 2023, we are learning so that we might live into God’s purpose and be
a part of his grand plan in my sermon series entitled, THEREFORE!

 

Pastor Ryan

“Because I said so.”

 

That’s a phrase that you’ve heard – and that you might have used. As a son and as a father, I’ve
been on both ends of that expression. In all likelihood, “because I said so” ended the
conversation. Sometimes it’s necessary, perhaps because the situation is urgent or time is
short. But often it creates frustration and even misunderstanding. And in parenting, it’s a
missed opportunity in explaining to a child how and why to make good, solid choices. And,
even more importantly, it’s a missed opportunity to build trust.

God, as our all-wise Creator, has the absolute right to use this phrase. But the fact of the matter
is, he often takes the time to explain. The Good News is that our Heavenly Father wants us to
know why. Even more important, our Heavenly Father wants us to trust him, and so he gives
his children a thorough explanation in his Word, the Bible.

God wants his household of faith to be built on a solid foundation.

The church is often called a “community of faith.” This very title presupposes that everyone who
participates is a person of faith. As Christians, we have faith in many different things: That God
exists, that God hears and answers prayer, that there is a reason for evil and suffering, that the
Bible is true and trustworthy, and that life has purpose and meaning.
However, to be human means to have doubts. Faith can be shaken. In fact, doubt often
coexists alongside faith. That is, we have reasons to believe and reasons to doubt the very
same thing.

In his book, Reaching for the Invisible God, Philip Yancey writes: “The church at its best
prepares a safe and secure space that belief may one day fill; we need not bring fully formed
belief to the door, as a ticket for admission.” Jesus himself honored the faith of everyone who
asked, from the bold centurion to doubting Thomas, healing a man who brought his son to him
and said, “I do believe! Help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

Come and join us as we as a community of faith seek greater understanding. All are welcome –
and it’s safe to ask all your questions!

“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

Pastor Ryan
Seeking Jesus, Serving Others