Chapel speech: On forgiveness.

Originally presented at Luther Junior and Senior High School morning chapel, February 4, 2014.

Forgiving is difficult! Have you ever been hurt by someone and decided to forgive them, only to find bitterness and resentment keep coming back?

The Bible tells us to forgive others their sins. In the Lord's Prayer, we ask God to forgive our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us. But this is much harder than it seems, isn't it?

The truth is, you and me, we're messed-up people. All of us need forgiveness for things we have said and done. Maybe you've never murdered anyone, but Jesus says elsewhere in Matthew that saying mean things in anger at someone means you could suffer the same judgment that you might get for murder. Seems harsh, right? Being mean to someone is not the same as murdering them.

But the truth is, murder and simple hatred have the same root. You don't murder without first hating. The Bible tells us that humans look at outward appearance, but God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 1:16b). Our hearts are not perfect. Have you ever envied? Have you ever lied? Have you ever spoken badly about someone? Have you ever had trouble forgiving?

Holding grudges fills us with bitterness and hatred. Revenge is even worse. Revenge puts the same guilt and shame of sin on us as well as on the person who hurt us. Even if we don't try and get revenge, being bitter at someone who hurt you is still bad for you and people around you. A famous proverb says "Not forgiving is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."

Forgiveness does not mean forgetting. Forgiveness does not mean that you have to try to be friends with someone who hurts you, or that it's okay that you've been hurt. Forgiveness means letting go of the bitterness. And often, you have to let go of the bitterness many times, maybe even seven times seventy times, because it tends to come back.

And why do we need to let go of the bitterness? Remember the imperfection of our hearts. We have all sinned. But here's the wonderful, amazing, good news: God forgives, and He forgives perfectly. That is why we forgive, as God has forgiven us. That is why every time we feel the bitterness bubbling up, we can ask God to take it from us. His love is more than enough to cover over our sins, seventy times over.

Let us pray.

Father God, thank you for your forgiveness. Help us to accept your forgiveness and forgive others, as you have forgiven us.

In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Amakusa. 25 years ago on a rural road here a J-3 was killed when a driver fell asleep at the wheel and hit his bike head-on. The J-3's parents came from the U.S. to his funeral and personally forgave the driver, which made a huge impact on not only her, but also the students he'd taught and even the Kumamoto community as a whole.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)