Why it is Important to Forgive - October 4, 2015 sermon

By Pastor Greg

Coming home from work, a woman stopped at the corner deli to buy a chicken for supper. The butcher reached into a barrel, grabbed the last chicken he had, flung it on the scales behind the counter, and told the woman its weight. She thought for a moment. "I really need a bit more chicken than that," she said. "Do you have any larger ones?"  Without a word, the butcher put the chicken back into the barrel, groped around as though finding another, pulled the same chicken out, and placed it on the scales. "This chicken weighs one pound more," he announced. The woman pondered her options and then said, "Okay. I'll take them both."

Jesus reminds us that, “just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions” (Matthew 7:26).  I think we all know what kind of person the butcher is, but what about the woman.  If the story continued, we might be able to tell what she is like based on her response.  And how she responds to being wronged would give us a pretty good idea what kind of heart she has.

You probably know that the Lord speaks against lying and deception.  We like to hear the Lord condemn those types of people.  However, what we may not like to hear is that the Lord also condemns those who remain bitter; those who refuse to forgive when they have been wronged.  According to the Lord, we must learn to forgive.

There are many places in the New Testament where believers are called to act in ways far different from the world.  Jesus teaches us to turn the other cheek when wronged, to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:39-44).  These are actions that identify us as a Christian – the fruit that shows what kind of tree we are like.  When we are hurt or wronged by someone, Jesus tells us to speak to them face-to-face about what they have done.  Instead of hanging on to bitterness, and allowing anger to poison their life, Jesus says, “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back” (Matthew 18:15).  I could go on, filling several pages with statements like “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).  But the point is that Jesus expects those called by His name (Christian) to conduct themselves in this world in ways that are not of this world.  He expects us to put on a new nature.

In Ephesians 4:17-32, Paul writes, ¹⁷ With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸ Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹ They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

²⁰ But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. ²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

²⁵ So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. ²⁶ And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”  Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

²⁸ If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. ²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Much of what Paul says here deals with our Christian conduct toward other people, not just our personal vices.  That’s the real shocker for many people.  Paul insists that it is sinful to harbor bitterness and unforgiveness in our heart.  Paul insists that a true believer seriously considers their interactions with other people and decides to change their ways.  They choose words that are helpful and encouraging.  They choose to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving.

In anticipation of our Love Feast and Feet Washing service, I want to focus on the last part Paul mentioned here; the part about forgiving.  The Lord has said, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).  Forgiveness is an essential “fruit” each Christian must bear in their life.  However, forgiveness is a fruit that is difficult to grow, especially if we continue to hold on to past hurts and wounds.  When we continue to dwell on a past “wrong”, we have not truly forgiven, and that “wrong” continues to infect our lives as Christians and as a Church.  According to Paul, only a person hopelessly confused would continue to harbor anger and bitterness over what has been done.  Paul says that to refuse forgiveness is to bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit.  In other words, if a Christian or a church wants to move on and move forward, they will need to find a way to let go of that “wrong” and instead embrace forgiveness.

This idea of forgiveness is the background behind the lesson Jesus taught His Apostles in the Upper Room during that final Passover celebration.  A big part of what He was teaching focused on letting go of hurt and embracing forgiveness.

Before the events in the Upper Room, two of His Apostles had tried to gain positions of power.  This “wrong” began to infect the group, which is part of the reason Jesus washes everyone’s feet (Read John 13:12-17).

More than simply a lesson on serving others, Jesus is teaching us to be kind to each other, to be tenderhearted, and to be forgiving.  And I can’t help but wonder if this is a lesson you and I need to learn as well.  I can’t help but wonder if we have allowed a “wrong” to infect us.

No matter where we go or what church we attend, someone will eventually say something or do something that offends us.  It even happens here.  It has happened here.  Something was said or done that caused hurt and woundedness.  However, if we take the words of the Bible seriously, there needs to be forgiveness.  Oh, we may be tempted to think that we have indeed forgiven and moved on.  However, if this were true, then we would not continually drift back to that event and relive what was said and done.  Every time we resurrect the pain, it’s a sure sign that we have not moved on; that we have not been able to forgive.

Tell me, don’t you want others to forgive you for the things you have said and done?  Don’t you want others to be patient with you?  Don’t you want others to be understanding and make allowance for your faults?  Then maybe you need to remember what the Lord taught us to do.  He said, Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.  This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets”.  Do to others as you would like them to do to you.  It is time for us to let go of the bitterness and anger over the things that were said and done.  It is time for us to forgive and move on.  It is time to wash one another’s feet.