What About Forgiveness?

One of the hardest things for me to accept is that people mess up; that I mess up.  But we do mess up, often badly!  As Isaiah points out: we’re “…all infected and impure…Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind” (Isaiah 64:6, NLT).   

Normally we encounter sin in two ways:  either as sinner, or the one sinned against.  As sinner: we’re the adulterer, the abuser, the one who abandons.  As the one sinner against: we’re the victim of adultery, abuse, or abandonment.   But in any event, sin is involved, and sin must be reckoned with.  If you’re the sinner you must confess and repent: I did have an affair, I did abuse, I did abandon you.  And if you’re the sinned against you must forgive.  

But here’s the rub: even if the sinner does not repent.  How outlandish! But that’s what Jesus did!  Hanging on the cross, Jesus looked at those who abused Him and said: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing…” (Luke 23:34). 

But boy is that tough; frankly any form of forgiveness is tough.  Glenn Schaeffer tells of holding up one of his favorite t-shirts, an ugly stained thing, during a children’s sermon.  “Children” Glenn said, do you know what someone said to me the other day – they said they didn’t like my t-shirt, and I should just throw it away. Boy was I hurt and I’m having trouble forgiving that person.  Do you think I should forgive that person?  Well at first none of the kids moved, but then Alicia, Glenn’s six year old daughter jumped to her feet:  “yes you should!” Alicia shouted. “yes you should forgive.” But why; that person really hurt my feelings.  I’ll tell you why” Alicia fired back:  “because you’re married to her…”  

But  even if you’re not married to her or him; even if you’re divorced -- estranged -- or wronged by her or him – you must forgive.  

Now please don’t understand:  it will take time, a lot of time.  But over time, we must forgive.  You see, as Paul notes in Colossians 3, overtime we must “clothe [ourselves] with compassion… [We must] bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances [we] may have against each other.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you…”  (Colossians 3:12-13, NIV).

Now please note, as Rick Williams clarifies, “…Forgiveness…is not forgetting…Forgiveness is…not condoning or making light of [sinful] behavior…Forgiveness is not pretending the offense did not occur…Forgiveness is not always reconciling, though reconciliation should always be attempted…”  No forgiveness is letting go, letting “…the peace of Christ rule in your [heart]… [letting] the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”  (Colossians 3:15+16) – nevertheless.

A while back, Margaret Rinck detailed the particulars of 'letting go': "...to 'let go' is not to cut off, but to conclude:  I cannot control.  To 'let go" is not to fix, but to be [available, as appropriate; to pray].  To 'let go' is not to enable, but to allow consequences [to occur].  to 'let go' is not to nag or argue, but to [be aware] of my shortcomings.  To 'let go' is not to judge, but to affirm God's calling and [timing].  To 'let go' is not to criticize [or] regulate, but to [trust and pray, more].  To 'let go' is not to arrange outcomes, but to allow folks to make choices.  To 'let go' is not to fear, [but to] love [even] more."

And so love even more, even at a distance.  For when love controls, rather than bitterness or fear, we're free rather than bound; liberated, not immobilized by wounds and pain.

For as Jesus notes, ultimate truth is not our pain, but Him: His peace...His forbearance...His destiny...His hope...His redemption.   And so claim such truth, for such "...truth will set you free..."  (John 8:32).  For when Jesus sets you free, when "...the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed..."  (John 8:36).

Be free indeed!  

What About Cremation?

 

Imagine for a moment you’ve been given a painting.  But not just any painting; you’ve been given Rembrandt’s famed “Return of the Prodigal Son”: a priceless masterpiece picturing forgiveness, grace and love.  But there’s a catch: you’ve got to keep the masterpiece ‘under wraps,’ specifically in a rough, burlap bag.  Well at first you protest:  a masterpiece like Rembrandt’s masterpiece needs to be displayed and framed.  And if it’s ‘under wraps,’ let it be in a velvet bag.  But the giver of the masterpiece is firm:  it’s got to be in the burlap bag! And so you put it in the burlap bag.  But you’re still confused:  why is in all the world would you place a masterpiece in such a common, earthy, container?

Frankly, persons often ask that question:  why would you place a masterpiece in a common earthy, container? Oh not about Rembrandt’s masterpiece, but God’s masterpiece – God’s saving action in Jesus; the ultimate expression of forgiveness, grace and love.  You see Paul is clear in 2 Corinthians 4:7 we have this treasure, [this masterpiece], in jars of clay…” (2 Corinthians 4:7), in an earthy, human form; in essence, a burlap bag.   

As we begin our discussion of cremation, it’s crucial we catch this paradox between the human and holy.  For often we emphasize one over the other.  Frankly, it often is the human over the holy; the bag, over the masterpiece.  I mean we worry about the bag – we put lipstick on the bag – we buy high fashion for the bag – we insure the bag.  But in the end, it’s still a bag – an  earthly, limited container.  

Now please don’t misunderstand, we are to honor our earthly container.  I mean “our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” – Paul underscores in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “…therefore [we are to] honor God with your body…”  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). But ultimately we honor God with our body, by not overemphasizing the body.  Rather we emphasize the God who resides in the body – the masterpiece within. 

Well how do you do that, especially in line with the sensitive subject before us?  

Guiding Thought #1 – Though Gospel Truth Never Changes, Gospel Application Often Does.  In all candor the Christian church, historically, has not has not supported cremation as an appropriate biblical application or practice. And for good reason: the Bible seems to favor burial of the body, over any other means. Whether it was Abraham in Genesis 25:8-10 – Rachel in Genesis 35:19-20 -- Joshua in Joshua 24:29-30 – Stephen in Acts 8:2 – or Jesus himself in Matthew 27:57-60, the bodies of bible folks were buried.

But does that mean burial of the body is the required biblical standard?  Not necessarily. Respectful, intentional handling of human remains in some way, shape or form -- is the required biblical standard, honoring Genesis 1:31, which calls us to handle human form and frame as something good.  

But burial of a body is but one application of that biblical standard.  The inference:  there can be other applications as well, including I would argue, cremation.  Apparently many agree.  Whereas in 1962, only 5% of deceased persons in the U.S. were cremated – in 2010 a whopping 40% of deceased persons in the U.S. were cremated.    

And so bottom line:  cremation is not a common practice in scripture, but a valid application of scripture; Genesis 1:31 scripture.  It’s interesting:  the burning of bodies and bones is found in scripture (1 Kings 16:18; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Kings 23:16-20) – but that’s not cremation as we know it today; cremation as we know it today was not a common Biblical practice.  

But cremation is still valid. I mean Christian radio is not common practice in scripture, but a valid application of scripture, specifically Matthew 10:27 scripture -- “…what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the [housetops]…” (Matthew 10:27).   Organs and electric guitars are not common practice in scripture, but a valid application of Psalm 150:6 scripture -- “…let everything that has breathe, praise the Lord…”  (Psalm 150:6).  

In sum:  cremation is a valid application of scripture; Genesis 1:31 scripture, as it calls us to handle human form and frame intentionally, respectfully, as something good.

Guiding Thought #2 – God Is Able:  Mobilizing Even Varied Things.  I mean varied applications of scripture results in varied things. 

Frankly, cremation is a varied thing, involving varied fragments of human form and frame.  But we wonder:  is God able?  I mean its one thing for God to work with a whole body – but fragments of a body?  We have our doubts!  And for good reason:  I mean the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that when Jesus returns to earth “…the dead in Christ will rise…” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).  But how will I rise, or my loved one rise, if we don’t have a body?    Because God is able!  Listen to Jesus Himself in Mark 13:26 – why when the Son of Man returns, Jesus remarks “… [He] will send his angels and gather his elect -- from the four winds -- from the ends of the earth -- to the ends of the heavens…”  (Mark 13:26-27).   

Sounds pretty inclusive to me!  Not just a gathering of intact, fully preserved bodily remains, but a gathering of all types of bodily remains.   But that’s our God: able to ‘work the miracle,’ ‘handle the details,’ and ‘put the pieces together, no matter what! 

In 1979, a tragic thing happened:  the U.S. embassy in Tehran was overrun and captured by Iranian captors.  But before the Iranians could take the embassy, embassy officials shredded every critical document in the whole compound. But it was all for naught! Why upon finding the shredded paper, the Iranians took the paper and spread it all over the embassy floor. And then with the utmost patience, they numbered each piece methodically, one by one.  But it gets even more bizarre:  after numbering each piece, they called in local carpet weavers and commanded them to painstakingly reconstruct each and every document by hand!  As Malcolm Byrne noted:  "For a culture that's been tying 400 knots per inch for centuries, it wasn't that much of a challenge [at all].!"

But there's one able to to reconstruct fragmented things, shredded things, even better than Iranian carpet weavers!  The name of the weaver:  the one true God!  The Bishop of Manchester says it best: "The omnipotence of [our] God is not limited...[Why] He [can] raise the dead -- whether He [has] to raise...bodies out of church-yards, or whether He [has] to reconstruct...remains...out of an urn...!"

Guiding Thought #3 -- What We Dwell On, 'Fix On,' Dominates.  If you dwell on earthy details, the earthy dominates.  But if you dwell on Godly details -- His sovereignty -- His omnipotence -- His ability -- the Godly dominates.

Clearly scripture wants the Godly to dominate.  Yes "...we have this treasure in jars of clay..."  Paul notes.  "...[but] do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day...So we fix our eyes not on what is seen -- but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal..."  (2 Corinthians 4:7; 16-18).

And so: what will we "fix on":  the earthy or the eternal; the burlap or the masterpiece?  I advise:  fix on the masterpiece!  Because no matter how tattered the burlap, the burlap really isn't you!  The masterpiece is really you!  Hope, security, joy, peace, salvation, eternity, in Jesus -- that's really you!

And so, fix on the masterpiece, not the burlap.  For God is able; able to sort out every concern about the burlap, be it cremation or some other detail.

And so,  "...do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away...inwardly we are being renewed day by day...So we fix our eyes not on what is seen -- but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary -- but what is unseen is eternal..."  (2 Corinthians 4:7; 16-18).

The Genius Of Generosity!

Scripture is clear:  as we bless others in bountiful ways, we’ll be blessed in unbelievable ways!

Now let me be clear:  we don’t give generously to “get back” – but God cares for us in spectacular ways, when we give life away.  For “…God is able…” (2 Corinthians 9:8) Paul notes in 2 Corinthians 9:8.  Did hear that church: God is able!! Specifically “…God is able to make all grace abound…”  (2 Corinthians 9:8) 

But there’s more.  “…he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will…supply and increase your store of seed… [in fact] you will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion…”  (2 Corinthians 9:10-11). 

But the key is being undivided. In Mark 5, Jesus encounters a demon possessed man named Legion, which means literally:  “we are many” (Mark 5:10).  And with that, Jesus names the problem:  “the many.”  And so, Jesus exorcises “the many,” casting out the demons, thus healing the man.   

In like manner we must “exorcise the many,” and be healed.  Once a miserable man declared:  I have “too many twos” in my life:  two houses, two boats, two women, two gods.  The result:  I’m two people!  Jesus isn’t surprised: “No one can serve two masters” He declares in Matthew 6.  “…for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and…be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in)” (Matthew 6:24, The Amplified Bible) apart from God. 

And so get rid of the “twos’ in your life, becoming totally devoted to Jesus, living an undivided life, given totally to the Lord.  Frankly the results are remarkable, for as we live totally, generously for Jesus, generosity is showered on us, as God richly blesses our days.

John Ortberg tells of being at Azusa Pacific University during graduation week. While there, John was invited to a gathering where three students were honored for their decision to do to India to serve the poorest of the poor after graduation.  Well, a few words were spoken, and then a commissioning prayer was offered, and then persons got up to leave.  But then the university president interrupted.  "I have one more announcement" he said.  "An anonymous donor was so moved the the decision of  these three students to go to India, he's given a gift to the university; actually the gift is to the students.  And with that, the president turned to the three soon to be missionaries:  "Susie, your student debt of $70,000 to Azusa Pacific has now been forgiven.  Tom, your student dept to $105,000 to Azusa Pacific has now been forgiven.  And Malcolm, your student debt of $130,000 to Azusa Pacific has now been forgiven."  And with that the entire room broke into applause and tears!

That's  that’s what generosity does:  it breaks us into applause and tears.  For there’s something startling and remarkable, when persons give in abundance, “turning inside out,” undivided -- blessing others in bountiful ways!

        

Bless others in bountiful ways!  Don’t hold back.  Rather “pour your heart out,” giving all!  The amount doesn’t matter, but the sacrifice and passion does, as we give passionately, serving not God and Mammon, but God alone.  Serve God alone!  “Stuff” time, talent and treasure into the hands of others excelling, in “…the grace of giving… (2 Corinthians 8:7)  For God is able!   “…Able to make all grace abound…”  (2 Corinthians 9:8).   

For “…he who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food will…supply and increase your store of seed… [in fact] you will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion…”  (2 Corinthians 9:10-11).  

Be generous on every occasion! For Jesus is right:  "whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it."  (Luke 17:33).  

Lose your life!  For the only way to find life is to give life away -- enthusiastically -- vigorously -- generously -- to the One who owns it anyhow -- God and God alone!

Fail Forward

We all make mistakes.  But here's the surprise:  mistakes actually contribute to the next leg of our journey, making us wiser, stronger, accelerating life in marvelous ways.

"Exhibit A" is the Apostle Paul.  If ever there was one who failed, it was Paul who "...persecuted the church...[trying] to destroy it..."  (Galatians 1:13).  But "...when God...called me by his grace..." Paul notes in Galatians 1 -- his life changed, accelerated, as Paul failed forward, becoming the greatest Apostle ever, preaching so boldly, he "....did not consult with any man..." (Galatians 1:16) -- so consumed by the grace and freedom of God!

We’re to be consumed also by the grace and freedom of God.  Sure, like Paul, we’ve persecuted a few people, destroying a few things.  But in spite of such failure there is a future -- if -- we allow ourselves to be caught up, consumed by the passion of God.   For as Winston Churchill notes:  “success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm” -- but not just any enthusiasm, the enthusiasm, the passion of God -- who turns: mistakes into milestones – screw ups into stepping stones – advancing us toward His melody and Kingdom dream.

Favio Chavez has done something amazing:  Favio has organized an orchestra in Cateura, Paraguay, that plays on instruments made out of recycled trash.  You see Cateura has one of the largest landfills ever, filled with over 1500 tons of trash, which people pick through to make a living.  But Favio wanted to redeem the landfill, so he started a music school at that very site.  At first Favio’s own instruments were enough to equip his few students, but soon Favio’s enrollment boomed.  And so Favio did an incredible thing:  he asked Nicolas Gomez, one of the trash-pickers, to make additional instruments from trash, from the landfill.  And Nicholas did, making a cello out of an oil can and old cooking tools -- a flute out of tin cans -- a drum set out of X-rays and more cans -- a saxophone out of bottle caps and still more cans -- a violin out a battered aluminum salad bowl and discarded forks. Well the results were amazing as Cateura’s "Recycled Orchestra" now plays to packed crowds – spellbound – as right before their eyes -- mess becomes melody – trash becomes treasure – garbage becomes gain!

Right before our eyes:  mess can become melody – trash can become treasure – garbage can become gain.  For no matter how much refuge and regret is before us – God can recycle and redeem, bringing new melody to life.

Believe God can bring new melody to life!  No matter the mess and mistakes, fail forward, claiming the hesed, the assistance of God “…who [does forgive]… [trash and] transgression… [who does delight in showing]… [marvelous] mercy…”  (Micah 7:18-19, adapted).    

Claim marvelous mercy!   For because of God’s great love, “…we are not consumed [by failure] – for [God’s] compassions never fail.  They are new every morning:  great is thy faithfulness.  (Lamentations 3:22-23) O Lord!   

And so, sure, great is our guilt – our shame – our regret.  But greater is our God – no matter the missteps – misdeeds – misjudgments of life.    

Let that truth pound in your head, not just your regret.  For we do have a God who delights in turning mistakes into milestones – screw ups into stepping stones – garbage into gain – producing a melody of grace and freedom – advancing each of us – toward His marvelous, amazing -- Kingdom Dream!