Alan Creech points out that for christians forgiveness is not optional

I’m not about to host a bible study here, but I’ll ask you a question: Have you ever noticed, or noted, that in New Covenant Scripture, we as Christians aren’t given the option not to forgive those who sin against us? Really? You never really noticed that? I have noticed that and it has put me on notice.

We are not God. He has that option, although I have my doubts whether He actually ever takes it. He has the option to demand certain things before He forgives. Again, I honestly believe He simply forgives. But we – you and me, and you too, over there – we are not given an out. We are not given any right to ask someone who harms us or who wrongs us in whatever way, to do “X” in order for us to be able to forgive them. We, in other words, are not given the option to demand repentance before we forgive – not even to demand an “I’m sorry” – just forgive. AAAGGHH! Nope – that’s it – that’s all – only the one option. We must make the choice to forgive.

Now, we cannot command our emotions. Generally speaking, that’s not entirely possible. And if we have actually been damaged by someone or a group of people, we have been just that, damaged, hurt, disabled in a sense. So, just snapping our fingers and feeling all good towards someone may not happen all at once. Let me say this – that’s OK. That doesn’t mean you haven’t forgiven someone. Of course, it may, in part, mean you’re not working on completing the forgiveness process. It may mean that. Perhaps, then, you’ve made some mental assent to say, “I forgive them,” and then go on basically hating them for all practical purposes. Not good. Not even close to good. In fact, bad, baaad.

Forgiveness begins, and continues as a process, and is brought to perfection through and in Love. Parts of this, along the way, are choices we make, some of which aren’t very comfortable – don’t feel very good. Of course they don’t. We’re broken to pieces on the inside – what do you expect? Continue to make the small choices you are able to make as you can make them.

Oh, and forgiving someone doesn’t mean they need to become your best friend after that, or really any kind of “friend,” necessarily. That’s not the point. That may happen, great, but again, it’s not the point of the whole thing. And it’s not just all about you – that you’ll feel all good about yourself when you’ve forgiven the evil wrongdoer. Where’s my eye rolling emoticon? Can’t find it. It’s about the God-kind-of-Life being released inside us and in the other, and in the whole world. It’s about the completion of the renewal process. It’s about the “Kingdom of God” swallowing up our known, broken reality. Forgiveness, for us, is one way we participate in the renewal of all things. That’s what it is – so now you know.