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Forgiveness (Rev 2017)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czGP0kIisdI

 

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Story from Ambon, Indonesia

“The hardest teaching of this seminar (SSTS Seminar) has been the teaching on forgiveness. It is easy to quote Luke 23:34 where Jesus said: ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ I have told myself, ‘I cannot forgive these Muslims because they ‘knew’ what they were doing! They ‘knew’ what they were doing when they burned my house. They ‘knew’ what they were doing when they murdered my wife. And they ‘knew’ what they were doing when they burned my church! I have been unable to forgive until today. By God’s grace I do forgive them – and will forgive them.”

This pastor’s comments began a series of conversations at the end of the seminar about “What steps do we take next?” The timing of the workshop was God’s intervention. Friday, November 16 was the beginning of Ramadan – the Muslim holy month of fasting during the daylight hours. It was often a time of increased tensions, rhetoric and inflamed passions. The National leaders wanted Cunningham and Estabrooks “off the island” Friday morning—before Ramadan began. But the Seminar had affected the pastors deeply, and they were seeking for wisdom on how to respond. Rev. Eman Santoso, the leader of the Indonesian National Prayer Movement, was one of our team members. He proposed to the pastors that after we left, they spend the remainder of the day in prayer together. Incredible consequences resulted!

The pastors spent the day together “on their knees” before the Lord asking for forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation. A consensus was achieved to return to their pulpits on Sunday and make this request of their church members: “Stay home for the next three days if you can, go to work if you have to, but set aside this time for prayer and fasting before the Lord. Then like Esther, after you have fasted and prayed for three days, we will go to the leaders of the Muslim community and seek a peace agreement. And again like Esther, we go bound in the Spirit, “and if we perish, we perish.”

The following week the leaders of both the Christian community went to the leaders of the Muslim community and offered the Muslims a ‘Peace Apology’ for killing hundreds of Muslims. [Note: The initial response by Christians to the attacking Laskar Jihad was to ‘fight back’. Christians killed Muslims, burned Muslim homes and destroyed mosques “in retaliation” to the Islamic Jihad violence.] Amazingly – in the eyes of the world – the Ambon Muslim leaders accepted the ‘peace apology’ – and reconciliation. By Christmas of 2001, a Peace Agreement began. The barbwire roadblocks were down, and Christians and Muslims were once again shopping in each other’s shops.

We were encouraged by the results of the Holy Spirit moving in the hearts of the Pastors to initiate a process of forgiveness and reconciliation. It happened and to God goes all the glory.

What Forgiveness is NOT?

Forgiveness is not Forgetting.

Forgiveness is not Reconciliation

On the cross, Jesus forgave the soldiers, the Jews, His disciples — and you and me — even though at that moment He never got off the cross, had a cup of tea with the Roman soldiers, (or Pilate, Herod, and the Pharisees) and became “reconciled” to them. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And then He died.

Forgiveness brings Freedom to the one, who forgives, not to the other party until they too are willing to forgive. Reconciliation can only happen when BOTH agree to forgive.

Some feel that if they forgive they must return to the same stage / level / place as prior or else they did not forgive. Not so. Forgiveness brings the emotions to ZERO! Reconciliation (love and trust) when (and if) it happens, starts back at — ZERO!

Listen to this conversation between a man who committed adultery — asked forgiveness — and after counselling, his wife agreed to forgive him and accept him back home. Note: Reconciliation starts back at ZERO.

Home phone rings:

Husband: “Honey, I’m going to be late getting home tonight. I have to work late at the office.”

Wife:     “No you’re not. You are going to be home for dinner at 6:00 PM as we agreed at the counselor’s office.”

Husband: “I thought you forgave me?”

Wife:     “I did…”

Husband: “…then you don’t trust me, do you?”

Wife:   “No, I don’t. That’s what you told me for all those months you were sleeping with ‘Miss-what’s-her-name” – “working late tonight – dear.”

My trust level is back at zero. You have to regain my confidence! Be home by 6!”

Husband: “Your tone doesn’t sound very loving.”

Wife:   “You’re right. My level of love is pretty small too (laughs). Bring some flowers with you. Start romancing me old man…”

Husband: “OK…see ya’ at 6 PM!

Trust and Love must begin all over at ZERO — and be rebuilt.

Forgiveness is for OUR benefit and our Freedom. Not for “the other party’s” benefit. The other person may feel manipulated if we keep pressuring them to forgive us. That has to be their initiative.

There may come a time when a mutually agreed mediator can help bring both parties back to ZERO. But, in the meantime, we must forgive. That makes us free, and that’s all we can do.

Forgive me if this sounds like a slap on the head (I said I am not a counsellor 🙂 Just Forgive. Get Free and start living! Let God do the rest!

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Forgiveness is not Restoration.

Forgiveness is not Tolerance.

Forgiveness is not Justice.

Forgiveness is not Condoning.

What Is Forgiveness?

An Asian Christian apologist says, “If asked, ‘What separates Christianity from other religions?’ or ‘what’s different about Christianity? Aren’t all religions the same when you get down to it?’ One of the first things I would say is one beautiful word: forgiveness.” South Africa’s notable Bishop Tutu says, “There is no future without forgiveness.”

Forgiveness is given even before apologies are offered. On the cross, some of the final words of Jesus were: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) The soldiers crucifying Him had not asked for forgiveness, but Jesus realized their need for forgiveness.

Forgiveness happens by the power of the Holy Spirit. When given, it communicates most powerfully the love of God. And we are called to be like God, who is love, to bear God’s family resemblance.

Forgiveness is the conscious choice to remove the barrier(s) of the offense thereby restoring the potential for relationship. Forgiveness pushes the “reset button” and brings the emotions back to zero. Satan uses false guilt to suggest that because you are no longer exchanging Christmas cards—or birthday cards—you never really forgave the person. Not so! Remind Satan seventy times seven that you’re forgiven (Period!). What proof is there? You no longer gossip about the person you forgave. As Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended it for evil. God intended it for good…” Forgiveness allows the relationship to return through eventual reconciliation ‘back to the beginning’ as love returns and trust gradually rebuilds. [1]

Reflection

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, who do I need to forgive in order to have a clean heart?”______________________________________

Father, forgive me for holding __________________________________________________

against ___________________________.   I forgive__________________________________,

so that You may forgive me. I release _______________________________________________, to Your Holy Spirit. Free me Lord of any hatred or wrong attitude toward__________________. In Jesus Name, Amen. [Adapted from Catherine Marshall’s book ‘Beyond Ourselves’]

Is the scandal of forgiveness wasted?

[1] Standing Strong Through the Storm, Paul Estabrooks, and Jim Cunningham, Open Doors International, 2nd Edition, 2014.

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FIVE VIEWS OF THE JEWS

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MORPHING NORTH AMERICAN CULTURE 

© 2016 JAMES D. (JIM) CUNNINGHAM

 Part 1

MNAC-1000AD

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Dialogue Points:

• The source of these 1000+ Aboriginal Tribes/Nations (whatever name one chooses to identify them) is a discussion point among anthropologists and linguists. (Asia, China, Siberia).
• Each group had a somewhat distinctive dress, culture, religion, architecture and language.
• Yes, there were conflicts over land, resources (food) and power.
• Some conflicts were resolved peacefully while others involved tribal wars and slavery of those who were “conquered.”
• In many cases the sheer size of the North American continent – and the disproportionate smaller size of the groups (a few hundred up to a few hundred thousand) permitted many to live in peace in their region (valley) having little interface with their neighbors “over- there-somewhere.”
• Each group had their system of spirituality, worship, worldview and values.
• Most if not virtually all believed in a “Great Spirit” who controlled weather, wars and personal lives.

MORPHING NORTH AMERICAN CULTURE 

© 2016 JAMES D. (JIM) CUNNINGHAM

Part 2

MNAC-1800

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Dialogue Points:

• Enter the first Europeans (likely Vikings from Scandinavia) into this ‘New World.’
• Admittedly the first non-aboriginal explorers were searching for wealth (gold) or a passage to India (for spices) or freedom and a new homeland for persecuted Christians and Jews (Spanish/Dutch and others).
• Each European group brought their distinctive dress, culture, religion, architecture, language – and technology (often surpassing traditional aboriginal knowledge).
• This led to a subduing of the original groups, with the end result being isolated on homeland “reserves” and living in many cases as welfare recipients of the new dominant white-European-legislators.
• Cases of aboriginal children being taken to “residential schools” to learn one of the European languages and culture are too frequent for even the most liberal sociologist to pardon.
• This flow of European immigration continued almost unabated from the 1500’s to the 1960’s.
• Chinese, Indians and Africans were restricted in the immigration policies – with the exception of slaves from Africa, who at that time were regrettably deemed as ‘goods-and-chattel’ rather than humans.
• The dominant religions of North America became Catholic, Protestant (Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist Pentecostal and a smattering of smaller denominations and cults) plus Orthodox.

 

MORPHING NORTH AMERICAN CULTURE 

© 2016 JAMES D. (JIM) CUNNINGHAM

Part 3

MNAC-Clashing Cultures

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Dialogue Points:

• A significant change came in Canada (and for the most part in the USA) during the regime of Pierre Elliot Trudeau in the late 1960’s. His view of a “Just Society” was more than naming his firstborn son “Justin.” Mr. Trudeau single-handedly initiated and achieved his “multi-cultural” goal to slow down (virtually end) European immigration and open Canada (and North America) to a flood of immigrants and refugees (aka “Non-Christian) from Asia, SE Asia, Africa and South America.
• At the same time laws were changed inside North America after the 1960’s that permitted lifestyle and morality changes unthought-of (and unprecedented) in the previous 400 years of Western Civilization. This included approval and acceptance by lawmakers of birth control, divorce (for any reason other than adultery), abortion, same-sex marriage, gambling, pornography right through to currently (2016) legalizing marijuana and trans-gender-ism (with polygamy and bestiality to follow?).
• The biggest changes have been in the introduction of new dress (turbans, hijabs), cultures, religions and languages – impacting our ‘traditional’ morality, lifestyles, worldviews – and laws.
• Older White Christians of European Heritage feel increasingly isolated and marginalized with proposed legislation permitting Islamic Sharia Law to trump historic British Law.
• What will be the dominant Worldview in North America by 2020? – Or 2050?
• The morphing of cultures in North America continues.

MORPHING NORTH AMERICAN CULTURE 

© 2016 JAMES D. (JIM) CUNNINGHAM

Part 4

MNAC-reserves

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Dialogue Points:

• I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet but the “non-prophet” in me sees our “Local Churches” becoming like little “Reserves” (or spiritual enclaves) almost in a parallel relationship to the outside world held by our Indigenous “First Nations” Indian tribes.
• Our “Local Church Reserves” have an agreed culture that includes:
• Dress – somewhere between “suit and tie” to “sliced jeans and T-shirts”
• Language – some “bless you” and others “regulate you.”
• Customs – some do communion every week, others never do it.
• In essence while “on the reserve” one can sing, pray, chant, dance, tell stories and play drums—“whatever”—as few outsiders appear to care.
• LCR “members” tend to inter-marry with other families from the same reserve.
• Parents find control is lost when their kids move “off” – or “out-of” the LCR.
• The majority of non-LCR citizens drives past the LCR’s and cares not a hoot about what’s happening on/in the reserve.
• Periodic news hits the media if there is a crisis or serious crime on the LCR.
• Outsiders rarely enter a reserve — unless invited — perhaps for a wedding/funeral.
• Historically whatever’s done on the reserve stays on the reserve (they have their own rules and enforcement officers).
• Since the “Local Church Reserves” are open to the public, and get State benefits (like charitable tax status) there is increasing media/public pressure for the State to regulate what is done – and said – on the LCR “Local Church Reserve.”