I seem to have struck a chord regarding the posts discussing the idea of judgment, mercy, and grace. It was not the definition, but the practical understanding or application in daily life that received the most comments. Intellectually, these words were understood, but it seems there’s a struggle on how it is supposed to work. So, let’s see if we can unpack things a bit more.
The Bible tells us in passing judgment on someone we have only condemned ourselves, as we invariably do the same thing we have judged in others. In psychology, we are often told that we despise what we see in others, but refuse to acknowledge in ourselves. Two sides of the same coin if you ask me. In either case, the road to reconciliation travels straight through forgiveness. But reconciliation with who; the offender, ourselves, God? How about all three?
Unfortunately, forgiveness is often the road less traveled. People are under the impression that forgiveness lets the offender off the hook. As humans, we rely on the rule of law to dispense justice. It is easy to understand when the crime is a material one. It is in the realm of emotion and opinion that we have the hardest time dealing with what wounds us. We seem happy to let the courts decide what should happen to the person who shoplifted at the local store. Yet, offend us and we will spend sleepless nights trying to find a path to accountability that requires inflicting equal amounts of pain, which in turn ends up feeding a perpetual demand for punishment.
Even the world of medicine is acknowledging the invisible nature of the spirit realm and its direct effect on the human body. In 2022, the Mayo Clinic published an article titled “Forgiveness: Letting Go of Grudges and Bitterness,” which touted the benefits of forgiveness, citing healthier relationships; less anxiety, stress, and hostility; lower blood pressure, improved heart health; and more. If those who attend to the physical body can see the tangible benefits forgiveness brings, how much more should we as believers in Christ readily offer this life and spirit-saving measure of love to ourselves and others?
How to mitigate the need for incessant fairness is what God’s grace and mercy answered for us. In His grace, we receive the plan of reconciliation with God. A plan that was conceived before the creation of our space-time continuum. God’s mercy laid the pathway to understanding the undeserved forgiveness poured out for and upon us. The gift of forgiveness becomes the binding agreement between grace and mercy. Simply put, God’s measure of forgiveness paves the way to the path we are to emulate.
“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another, instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister ”
Romans 14:13 NIV
Christ came into the world taking all judgment to Himself, placing us into a relationship with God. It was the purpose of the incarnation. Jesus living as man became the footprint of how to live in a state of unconditional love. So, with God giving careful attention to the why and the how of laying judgment becomes a stumbling block in our lives, and then providing the answer, why is it so hard to follow the example? Some say we are not God, but humans capable of error, so how can we be expected to be as perfect as He is? That thinking leads to the belief that it is our work that makes it happen. We couldn’t be further from the truth, as it means we are depending upon our own goodness; which we have already seen eludes us more often than it should.
Forgiveness should not be viewed as an outward opinion towards others. It requires us to look inwardly to test who we are against who we were truly meant to be. We will go to extravagant lengths to keep our world a secret so we can shield ourselves against judgment from others. Isn’t it ironic that as we try to hide all that we can behind a façade of wholeness, we become the ones who stand on the precipice of the tallest tower looking out upon everyone else judging them and saying, “Thank God I am not as they are?”
I remember the day, years ago when that exact thought crossed my mind. You really can begin to believe your own press pumping yourself up with justifications and unnecessary comparisons. Who doesn’t want to think they have it all together, even if they don’t? It is all too easy to assign incorrect motives to the uncomfortable attitudes of people around us. We seem to take it too personally when it was probably never about us in the first place. The process of looking deeply at myself was a journey that required me to step down from my self-erected throne to recognize my faults. Honestly, it opened my eyes to the genuine understanding of how much we all have in common no matter where we are in this world.
We would all like to think we are sensible people, but sensibility requires caution rather than immediate conviction. To achieve a balance, our thoughts must be filtered through a lens of love. Love makes it completely possible to forgive without judgment, and to even pray for the well-being of those who offended us. Jesus taught us this concept for our well-being with the end goal being peace on earth and goodwill toward one another.
In the world we live in today, there is too much celebration of the growing division between us. We are not islands intended to live separately and alone, paying attention to the mistakes of others and passing judgment upon them. We are intended to be the light that burns brightly with the truth of living under the freedom that forgiveness brings. Having been given such a gift, should we not be compelled to share the same with others? Don’t let the ways of this world guide us to the wrong frame of mind and hollowed-out spirit. Instead, follow the road less traveled. Forgive one another without judgment and watch how our world will begin to change in the best of ways. As God Players, it starts with us!
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Citation: Mayo Clinic Staff, Forgiveness: Letting Go of Grudges and Bitterness. Retrieved 30 Jan 2024, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-20047692.
