Author: Wick

When I was in New York on a BURPO mission trip back in the day (early 2002), me and the fellas got to work for an off Broadway musical called “The Rock and the Rabbi“. They quickly nailed in one song a point that I think often gets passed over as “good feelings” in traditional sermonettes on it.

In Matthew 18:22, Peter had just asked Jesus how often he should forgive his brother. This goes back to rabbis interpreting the Old Testament. Peter and the disciples knew that Jesus was talking about changing things in big ways. At the time, it was accepted that you would forgive someone up to 3 times. Peter, knowing Jesus was bringing something new about, offered a generous “seven” times in his question (verse 21).

Jesus responds to Peter’s generous offer with something even more staggering. Depending on your translation, you may see “seven times seventy”, or “seventy-seven” times. In either case, the interpretation is similar. Jesus is giving a symbolic number (3 sevens) for the infinite. For the limitless. If you count how often you forgive someone, you’re missing the point.

There are other aspects to this story. The fact that it’s the opposite direction of the story found in Genesis 4. Cain had killed his brother. His other brother, Lamech, wants revenge by killing Cain. In Genesis 4:24, we see vengeance and murder (counting offenses) in an infinite direction. In Matthew 18:22, Jesus offers a new direction. He offers a way counter to the fall of humanity, a way of redemption, a way of the Kingdom of God.

How does this look in our world today? Surely we can’t be expected to forgive someone every time they offend? Open our doors, homes, and lives to people, even if we don’t agree with choices they make? Even if we feel they’ve hurt us in some way? Does this also apply to us as groups/societies, businesses, and nations as well?

If we forgive infinitely, won’t we end up losing? Won’t we end up wounded? Won’t we be taken advantage of? Even harder, won’t the people we love end up getting hurt?

Probably.

At this point, the Youth Pastor-ish side of me wants to come out and say, “But it’s worth it, cause it’d be the direction of the Kingdom of God.” So there.

But it still scares me. And yet…there it is.

In reading lately, it’s been pointed out again that the Christian community comes together/lives out as something “otherly” in the world.

The writer was addressing the Civil rights movement of the mid-1900’s. In that time, it was obvious that those following Christ should find themselves having compassion for those who are oppressed and living in unjust conditions. What was not so obvious was that the Christian community should be focusing on communicating love and grace to those powerful Caucasians who were afraid of what would happen to society if these “others” were granted rights.

This situation can translate into many different discriminated communities we find in our world today. Both internationally, and right here in the good ole’ melting pot. Homosexuals, minorities (still), women (still), immigrants (legal AND illegal), etc. The way they are treated/talked about in many circumstances as sort of “sub-human” can inspire even the newest Christian to recognize that God would want justice done. It’s easy for us to love the oppressed.

What is a bit harder for us, me at least, is the other side. To love the Pat Robertsons. The James Dobsons (on occasion, I realize Dobson’s organization still accomplishes much good today). Doesn’t have to be Christian leaders gone bad either, there are plenty of other leaders and political powers who would be guilty of oppression. Their hundreds (thousands?) of followers. The hard part is how to show love (real love, not showy huggy love) to these while at the same time standing for justice in a way that echoes Christs’ same desires.

This element also stands out in how the Christian community emerges as “otherly” in the world. Even in a world where justice is seen as a highest priority, to love the oppressor (truly) would be a rare thing to find outside of the Body of Christ. With that understanding, we also must recognize that we cannot force a world-wide utopia by asking the entire world to follow suit. Our concern is now how it will be perceived by the world, or even by those who we love. It doesn’t have to “make sense”. And yet, it needs to be happening. Locally, nationally, world-wide.

I guess the hard part, for me at least, is this: