Thursday, September 04, 2014


2078 FORGIVENESS [And some thought on ISIS]
This week I want to cover the incident where Jesus came back to his home town and healed a paralyzed man.

We read the account in Matthew 9.

As Jesus arrives his fame as a healer is already known- so when he comes into a new city the first thing that people do is bring their sick to him- or ask for him to heal a friend or loved one.

Back in that day there were no scheduled ‘healing crusades’ or things like that- so when you heard Jesus was in town- you tried to get your cause to him.

In this case some guys carry A crippled man to Jesus- and the first thing he says is ‘Son- be glad- your sins are forgiven you’.

Now- the scribes [one of the religious leaders of the time] said [thought] within themselves ‘this man blasphemes’.

Only God could forgive sins.

Now Jesus knew their thoughts and confronted them- he said ‘is it easier to say ‘your sins are forgiven’ or to say ‘rise up and walk’.
Now- it is indeed easier to say ‘your sins are forgiven’- because on the outside- you don’t truly know if there was a change- a forgiveness that took place.

But Jesus says ‘so you may know that the SON OF MAN has power on the earth to forgive sins- I say unto you- rise and walk’.

The man got up- took up his bed- and walked away.

Here is the part I want to get to- when the people saw this miracle they were amazed- and the bible says the thing that amazed them was that God gave such power UNTO MEN.

When we study Theology and do scholarly stuff- one of the things you learn is what we refer to as Liberal Theology.

Now- when we use this term in Christian study- we do not mean Liberal in the sense of Politics [though most Liberal theologians would be more Liberal in the political way].

Liberal theology arose out of the German universities in the late 19th- early 20th centuries.
Men like Rudolph Bultman and others espoused the idea that the stories of the miracles found in the bible were simply ‘myth’ that they were in there simply to teach us moral/ethical truth.

Now- for the most part I reject the bulk of what the Liberal Theologians taught- because they tried to remove the supernatural elements of scripture in order to make Christianity  more acceptable to modern man.

But in doing this they rejected the resurrection of Christ as well as the other supernatural accounts of the bible- so- for most of us- we obviously do not fall into their camp.

But- as the way things are in life- even those we disagree with- at times- do make valid points.

I think in this account- they got it right.
How?
The main thing that Jesus was showing us- was not that men have power to heal the sick [though I do believe in the Charismatic gifts of the Spirit- which includes healing].

But the important thing he showed us was that men have the ‘power on earth- to forgive sins’.

As I write this post- in September of 2014- once again the world is in danger thru another Radical Islamist group- called ISIS [or Isil].

Isis is a radical militant group- who as of this time- has managed to ‘accomplish’ something that the other radical groups have not.

They are closer to establishing a true Caliphate than any other group in the modern period.

What’s a Caliphate?

The other most ‘famous’ radical group of our time is Al-Qaida- who most of us are aware of.

The way Al-Qaida operates is they simply hit targets of convenience- there is no real governmental order to what they do.

Isis has gone a step further- they have taken over areas of Iraq and Syria and have sort of established their own country- from which they move forward [like another country invading enemy territory] and when they take over an area [Mosul in Iraq] they actually establish order- they operate the city-provide services- and often do a better job than the leaders who they ousted.

Sort of like Hamas in Palestine.
Now- because of many other political reasons [the disaffected Sunni population in Iraq- the division between the Sunni and Shia- and how the leader of Iraq has not been inclusive of these groups] the radical group Isis has won the hearts of the more moderate groups- and they have financing- order- and the ability to launch more than just an isolated ‘terrorist’ attack.

No- they have a form of government and order to what they do.

The same thing has happened in Syria- the more moderate rebels have been won over by the radical Isis group- and they are at war with Bashar Assad- who the U.S. has said ‘must go’.

As of this week- the U.S. no longer holds that positon- and in a way we are actually siding with Assad- in hitting the Isis rebels.

Ok- I used to write on this a lot- and the reason I mention this is because all of these actions going on in the world today- in one way or another- are based on ancient divisions [religious] that some believe can be resolved thru violence.

And I fault our own history as well- the U.S. and the West are guilty in some ways of these same things.

Not out and out ‘terrorism’ but at times we justify military action for ‘self-interest’ and indeed- we kill people.

Now- we don’t cut their heads off on camera for the world to see- and we rightfully condemn such horrific acts.

But when we accidently drone a wedding party [which we have done in Pakistan] or accidentally shoot civilian reporters- and kids [which we did in Iraq] yes- these things are horrific as well- and when the cost of war includes a calculated amount of collateral damage like this- then we- the West- have to be careful before we engage in other countries- because these too are choices that we make- knowing full well- that kids and innocents will be killed- unintentionally mind you- but that’s no solace for the Arab/Muslim mother who had her child killed because the U.S. made a political calculation to engage in there region.

Ok- how do we [the global community] deal with this?

At the heat of the matter I think the answer is found in the story above.

Jesus showed us thru his life- that indeed- God has given POWER UNTO MEN.

What power?

The power to FORIVE SINS- the power to look at long term divisions- hatred of ‘the other’ and to release them.

In 1st Corinthians 13 we read that true love holds no RECORD OF WRONGS DONE.
Jesus on the Cross cried out FATHER FORGIVE THEM- THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

The first Christian martyr in the bible is Stephen- we read of his martyrdom in Acts 7- when he was being stoned he followed the example of Jesus and said LAY NOT THIS SIN TO THEIR CHARGE.
Saul was there that day- he heard this act of forgiveness- this great ‘power God had given to men’ and he became the greatest missionary of the New Testament- all the elements of Paul’s theology are found in seed form in the great sermon of Stephen that we read in Acts 7.

Stephen's death- and willingness to forgive- had such an impact on Saul- that he would eventually carry the message of Stephen to the ends of the earth [of his day].

There are many teachings/parables that deal with forgiveness- let’s hit on one.
Jesus said there was a king who took account of his servants- one owed a lot- the king was going to make the man sell all that he had- put his family in bondage- and make him pay the debt.

The servant pleaded ‘please be patient with me- I will make it right’.

The king forgave him.

Then this same man went out and found someone who owed him a debt- he did not forgive his debtor- but put him in jail.

The other servants saw this- reported it to the king.

He was angry and went and put him in jail- delivered him to the ‘tormentors’.
Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts we can give to our fellow man- the releasing of debt.

A couple of years ago I sold my van to one of my friends- for 1800 dollars.

He paid about 700- and I was in N.Y. at the time- thinking of moving back there.

He called me one day ‘John- I don’t think I will be able to come up with the next payment- do you want me to give you the van back’?

He’s a friend I work with from the streets.

I told him ‘no- consider the debt paid- get clean- move on with your life’.

He’s the same friend that asked me a few months back to take him to the detox- he is now back in our halfway house- and has about 120 days clean.

I have had more than one of the street guys say ‘wow- you let him keep the van’.

Even his brother- still on the streets- had a serious talk with me the other day.
I told him it was time to give it a shot- get off the Meth and do like his brother.

He said ‘John- look what my brother did- you let him keep the van- and he went and relapsed’.

This was about a year and a half back.
Yet- these guys remember the forgiving of the debt more than anything else.

Jesus showed us that God has given great power unto men- the greatest being able to forgive wrongs- to let the captive go.

For those who have harmed us- or those we have hurt.
To be able to say ‘I’m so sorry- can you forgive me- I was wrong’.

The offended party has the power to release us- to give the forgiveness- or not.

Let’s try to release the other- we live in a very unstable world today- the root cause is age old divisions.

Things that are either perceived- or actual wrongs.
Even if the wrongs we see- are real- yet- to seek vengeance- to want revenge- to behead people.

These are not the paths of God- Whether you refer to him as Allah- Jehovah- or Jesus.

The example of Jesus was to forgive- even in the midst of a great injustice [his trial and court proceeding was in fact an unjust thing- false witnesses prevailed].

Yet he forgave.
We can too.

Matthew 9:1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
Matthew 9:3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
Matthew 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
Matthew 9:5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Matthew 9:7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
Matthew 9:8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Matthew 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Matthew 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Matthew 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Matthew 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Matthew 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Matthew 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Matthew 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Matthew 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Matthew 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Matthew 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Matthew 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.









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