In need of forgiveness
03/02/14 05:26
There is something in our imaginations that seems to be attracted to thinking about the big sins. When Jesus prays from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing,” our minds immediately go to the executioners who nailed him to the cross or at least to the officials who handed down the death decree. It seems that it is as likely that Jesus was praying for his disciples who fled the scene fearing for their own lives. Maybe he is praying for forgiveness for the clumsiness of the soldiers who taunted him or the ineffectual weeping of some who gathered at the foot of the cross.
It isn’t just Jesus on the cross. When someone mentions sin our minds seem to quickly go to all kinds of big things like murder and theft and incest and unfaithfulness. These are sins, to be sure, but they aren’t the only ways that we hurt one another and fail to live up to the best that is in us.
Most of our sins are defined by the things we do not do rather than the things that we do. We fail to listen carefully or fail to do a small act of kindness that would have benefitted another.
We are, after all, human. And human mistakes and failings mark all human institutions. The church is not immune from the kinds of things that injure. Over the years I have heard many horror stories about how people were mistreated and abused in the church. Although there are the horror stories of sexual abuse and misconduct by church officials, there are far more stories of people whose feelings were hurt by smaller acts of insensitivity. I know too many people who have put their hearts and time and efforts into their church and then later felt pushed out of their churches by leaders who took the church in a different direction.
There are plenty of sad stories of people and their relationships to organizations and the church is no more often guilty than other organizations, but it is sad to know that we often fail to liver up to our ideals.
The Gospels are full of stories of Jesus disciples - the ones closest to him - not fully understanding him and the meanings he seeks to communicate. There are plenty of times when they simply don’t get it. It is true of contemporary disciples as well. People live their lives immersed in the church and dedicated to Jesus Christ and still don’t get it when it comes to the basic teachings about loving one another, welcoming outsiders and serving those in need.
This failure to live out our faith is often labeled as hypocrisy by critics of the church. They are accurate in that much of their assessment. There is plenty of hypocrisy in the church, though it is not the only place where you will encounter human inconsistency and the gap between ideals and reality.
I’m not very interested in countering the criticism of outsiders, but I do care about learning to treat others better. When I hear harsh words flying in the church, or listen to someone unfairly criticizing another, I am bothered by my ineffectiveness as a teacher of the Gospel. I ought to find the words to gently intervene and change the course of the discussion. Sometimes I can deflect criticism and sometimes I defend one who is being picked on. But too often I am silent or inarticulate in the face of less-than-Christian behavior
One of the most common sins of those of us who live our lives in faith is a kind of selfishness. We forget what we are doing and try to claim recognition or honor or even control for ourselves.
It is not about me.
But too often I forget that simple truth.
Worship is about offering praise and thanks to God and expanding the welcome so that more people can participate in this spiritually renewing and life-giving activity. It is not about whose name is printed in the worship bulletin in what order. It is not about who gets credit for an idea. It is not about showcasing my talents. It is about God. But we forget. This is especially true when our feelings get hurt.
A funeral is about coming together to offer thanksgiving to God for a life well lived, about comforting one another in our common loss, and about opening our lives to the presence of the Holy Spirit that can move us from despair to praise. But sometimes we forget. Sometimes we think it is about who is in charge or who controls the seating chart or who gets to sing the solo.
Weddings are about coming together before God in the presence of the gathered community to make sacred promises and begin a life-long covenant. But too often we are distracted by dresses and attendants and decorations and the menu at the reception and forget to focus our attention where it belongs.
Mission is about serving others, not about who is in charge.
I could go on and on with other stories of how we who claim a life of faith and live with intentionality about following Jesus fail to live up to the promise of our faith.
Henry Nouwen reminds us that we are “wounded healers.” It is not the fact that we have our act together that makes us ministers, but rather that we are deeply aware that we cannot do this by ourselves. We need to rely upon the grace and assistance of God to live the lives to which we are called.
And so we say “I’m sorry” again and again. We pick up the pieces and move forward as best as we are able. There is much that we have yet to learn.
And when I picture Jesus in a moment of deep pain and anguish crying out to God for forgiveness, I understand that his prayer is equally prayed for me. I, too, do not know what I am doing and am in need of forgiveness.
It isn’t just Jesus on the cross. When someone mentions sin our minds seem to quickly go to all kinds of big things like murder and theft and incest and unfaithfulness. These are sins, to be sure, but they aren’t the only ways that we hurt one another and fail to live up to the best that is in us.
Most of our sins are defined by the things we do not do rather than the things that we do. We fail to listen carefully or fail to do a small act of kindness that would have benefitted another.
We are, after all, human. And human mistakes and failings mark all human institutions. The church is not immune from the kinds of things that injure. Over the years I have heard many horror stories about how people were mistreated and abused in the church. Although there are the horror stories of sexual abuse and misconduct by church officials, there are far more stories of people whose feelings were hurt by smaller acts of insensitivity. I know too many people who have put their hearts and time and efforts into their church and then later felt pushed out of their churches by leaders who took the church in a different direction.
There are plenty of sad stories of people and their relationships to organizations and the church is no more often guilty than other organizations, but it is sad to know that we often fail to liver up to our ideals.
The Gospels are full of stories of Jesus disciples - the ones closest to him - not fully understanding him and the meanings he seeks to communicate. There are plenty of times when they simply don’t get it. It is true of contemporary disciples as well. People live their lives immersed in the church and dedicated to Jesus Christ and still don’t get it when it comes to the basic teachings about loving one another, welcoming outsiders and serving those in need.
This failure to live out our faith is often labeled as hypocrisy by critics of the church. They are accurate in that much of their assessment. There is plenty of hypocrisy in the church, though it is not the only place where you will encounter human inconsistency and the gap between ideals and reality.
I’m not very interested in countering the criticism of outsiders, but I do care about learning to treat others better. When I hear harsh words flying in the church, or listen to someone unfairly criticizing another, I am bothered by my ineffectiveness as a teacher of the Gospel. I ought to find the words to gently intervene and change the course of the discussion. Sometimes I can deflect criticism and sometimes I defend one who is being picked on. But too often I am silent or inarticulate in the face of less-than-Christian behavior
One of the most common sins of those of us who live our lives in faith is a kind of selfishness. We forget what we are doing and try to claim recognition or honor or even control for ourselves.
It is not about me.
But too often I forget that simple truth.
Worship is about offering praise and thanks to God and expanding the welcome so that more people can participate in this spiritually renewing and life-giving activity. It is not about whose name is printed in the worship bulletin in what order. It is not about who gets credit for an idea. It is not about showcasing my talents. It is about God. But we forget. This is especially true when our feelings get hurt.
A funeral is about coming together to offer thanksgiving to God for a life well lived, about comforting one another in our common loss, and about opening our lives to the presence of the Holy Spirit that can move us from despair to praise. But sometimes we forget. Sometimes we think it is about who is in charge or who controls the seating chart or who gets to sing the solo.
Weddings are about coming together before God in the presence of the gathered community to make sacred promises and begin a life-long covenant. But too often we are distracted by dresses and attendants and decorations and the menu at the reception and forget to focus our attention where it belongs.
Mission is about serving others, not about who is in charge.
I could go on and on with other stories of how we who claim a life of faith and live with intentionality about following Jesus fail to live up to the promise of our faith.
Henry Nouwen reminds us that we are “wounded healers.” It is not the fact that we have our act together that makes us ministers, but rather that we are deeply aware that we cannot do this by ourselves. We need to rely upon the grace and assistance of God to live the lives to which we are called.
And so we say “I’m sorry” again and again. We pick up the pieces and move forward as best as we are able. There is much that we have yet to learn.
And when I picture Jesus in a moment of deep pain and anguish crying out to God for forgiveness, I understand that his prayer is equally prayed for me. I, too, do not know what I am doing and am in need of forgiveness.