True Grit

I was watching a little Joel Osteen on the weekend. I don’t particularly like his overall spiel but he’s better than many. He’s very positive and upbeat and reminds me of a number of preachers I’ve heard. After a few times though my teeth start to ache because of the sweetness. I haven’t thought much about the doctrinal differences that would cause such a variance probably because I don’t see any necessity. But what did perk me up during my most recent listening adventure was the supposedly endless and bottomless forgiveness of God.

I think that is part of the sweetness that shortly wears thin to my taste. It paints Jesus as sort of a Candy man although I’m sure Joel would disagree with that interpretation. Nevertheless, he continually talks about forgiving one another, loving your enemies, doing good to those who hate you and how can you argue this, it’s the heart of the gospel; well apparently I can.

Fundamentally I don’t think God forgives. He can’t. It’s not in his nature to mix evil with good. Thus if your children are continually disobedient you take them out of the village and have them stoned to death. I don’t need to go through all of Leviticus to remind one of the many activities that are met with the death prescription. Not that different from the Flood which killed everyone save Noah or marching the Israelites around the desert for 40 years until everyone who left Egypt died (save Joshua and Moses?). What about Ananias and Sapphira or the rift between Paul and Barnabas or Paul and Peter? Why can’t we all just “forgive” and “get along”, as we hear so often in the current media, and “love one another”.

First, the world has no place in advising Christians on anything about love. When John Lennon says “all you need is love” it’s in a context that has nothing to do with Christianity. And if Christianity isn’t the heart of it, then it isn’t love. God is love. Jesus is God. And I don’t mean this like an axiomatic formula. I mean that if you want to find out what love really is, look to Jesus and therefore the Gospels. (ie. whatever the Holy Spirit has written on your heart as to who Jesus is, which should be consistent with the New Testament)

So are we really forgiven? Yes, but not without sacrifice. There is no carte blanche forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:22 ‘without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness’) There was a trade involved. This is consistent with the Old Testament priestly rituals. Animals were killed and their life blood was offered in place of the penalties for sin. (which is also death) So they died in the place of those who received the ‘forgiveness’. And while I’m sure Mr. Osteen is well versed in this scenario he doesn’t transfer this well to the Christian walk. It’s like we should dole out forgiveness as though it’s water from Niagara. Really? Is that what Jesus did? Is that what he wants us to do?

I’ve read some commentary regarding Jesus’ statement to his disciples, “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (John 20:23) The response by most is a frantic rush to inform us that this doesn’t mean what one would plainly take it to mean. On the other hand the Roman Catholics take this to mean their priests have the power to determine the length of your stay in purgatory and you better hook up with one before you kick because you need him to administer your final forgiveness. Two divergently opposite views and neither of which I adhere to. The Catholic view is plainly contrary to some fundamental information from Jesus and the disciples. Not really even worthy of challenge. The other view is a little more interesting and highlights my primary variance to Joel. How much of Christ’s mantle should we aspire to or make our own. If Paul’s words are to be taken at face value and/or John’s then it’s pretty much 100%. We become the righteousness of God through Christ’s work on the cross. We are the salt of this earth and we should be able to judge rightly since we will judge the angels. Are everyone’s sins forgiven? Clearly not. It would be better if Judas had not been born. And the Pharisees weren’t looking too good during the confrontations with God. Jesus told them they would die in their sins.

Now the forgiveness is available, but on the condition you accept the terms. The terms are agreeing that the blood of Christ is the means by which you are forgiven. If you don’t buy into Christ then you don’t buy into his sacrifice then you shouldn’t be talking about forgiveness in any, way, shape or form. Again, the world uses the word forgiveness but they’ve simply borrowed it from Christianity and it has no real meaning in their world of sin.

As Jesus has said they will treat you like they treated him. So if you’re representing Christ in your life and you are hated for it, that should be the norm. Are sins not being forgiven as a result? Absolutely. Those who hate you hate Jesus. When you’re in a confrontation in that context, your opponents are unknowingly opposing Jesus. There is judgment going on. Do you forgive those who do such things? Maybe, but what does that really mean? Do you pretend that they don’t hate you? That they’ll do whatever they can to thwart your progress? Sin doesn’t just pussy foot around. It’s a war, spirit lusting against sin and sin lusting against spirit. The world and the kingdom are at severe odds. And that manifests itself in our daily relationships. So when your question whether your forgiving someone, someone who is clearly your enemy, don’t get all hot and bothered. I don’t think we’re required to forgive them. We stand, we fight,(internally) we testify. And that’s what I think Jesus means by whatever you don’t forgive, won’t be forgiven. Those people will be called to account for how they treated you.

If they repent and ask for forgiveness it's a no brainer. That’s a different deal and a completely different context; even if they killed your wife, husband or children. Jesus came to call sinners, not the righteous. Brothers and sisters should live in forgiveness for one another. But your enemies are just that. And that’s where I think Joel and I part ways. In daily relationships he’s really advocating to treat enemies as friends. And while Jesus called Judas friend it was not because he forgot for one iota who he was and what he was about. Neither should Christians. We are called to be as wise as the serpent. And that’s really the only way to be as harmless as doves.

So I don’t forgive everyone. I’m not all hung up about it either. Vengeance is God’s, he will repay. I love my enemies but I don’t throw my pearls before swine. I don’t treat them the way they treat me, I can't, but neither do I treat them as I treat friends. Jesus says to give them a few chances to change their ways and if they don't "treat them as a pagan or a tax collector". (Matthew 18:15-17) And in Luke 17:3-4 he says to forgive but only in the context of their repentance.

I recently saw Joel and his wife being interviewed on 'Piers Morgan Tonight' and he was just as I expected. The man has lost his salt, if he indeed ever had it. And you know what Jesus says about that condition. I watched True Grit on the weekend and that’s what Joel needs.