This Matter of Forgiveness

"When you choose to forgive, you go from victim to saint in your own story. When you choose to forgive, it becomes your story, not the offenders story. When you choose to forgive, you are given the potential to transcend tragedy. When you choose to forgive, you are touched by evil, you are not defined by it." Brian Zahnd  in UNconditional pg. 108

It was Easter yesterday so I guess that is what is prompting this blog, but on a deeper level I have been really thinking about forgiveness a lot lately because of this book that I am reading and because I am really trying to live as a Christian ought to live.  More and more I am convinced that forgiveness is the very central idea of Christianity.  However, it is not just the forgiveness of my sins that I need to focus on.  Christ did not just come to die for my sins.  He also came so that we might follow him and learn to forgive others their sins also.  We are to forgive because he has forgiven us.  He showed us what forgiveness looks like so that we could give it away.  We can't keep this thing to ourselves.  So what does this mean for me?  Well, I think it means that I need to love those people that hate me.  I need to show mercy to the people that I would rather punish.  If someone hurts me I can not retaliate against them.  I need to love even when it hurts.  After all, isn't this what Jesus did for me.  I am sure it hurt a lot to die on a cross.  I am sure it hurt a lot to feel abandoned by God, betrayed by friends, and persecuted for sins that he did not even commit.  Thanks to him I will never suffer to that degree.  So can I love someone when they are unlovable?  Can I love someone when they act in evil ways?  I know I will have to try.  I call myself a Christian.  That is a Christ follower.   In order to be a Christ follower I have to forgive, there's just no way around this one.