I Can't Forgive

From time to time, I'll receive an email and/or Bible question touching on a topic I know affects many others in our congregation. In those situations, I get permission from the author, strip the email to maintain anonymity, and then throw it up on the blog.

The Email:

I believe with every fabric of my being that some sins are unforgiveable. I believe that God can forgive these monsters. I can't. I have always felt that way but in light of recent events I can't internally try to deny it anymore to make myself feel like a better Christian. Does that make me unworthy of standing in front of church…? I'm trying to hold myself accountable and am feeling very undeserving...

My response

xxx,

I often think something very similar to your, “I believe God can forgive these monsters.” Then, again similar to your sentiments, my personal struggle to extend that forgiveness wages on. For me, that struggle is hottest and hardest when I think of the Taliban and “pro-choice” activists. Those are two people groups I’d like to see my Jesus consume with raging fire—today! (It IS going to happen; check out Revelation 19.11-16!)

Does that make you AND me unworthy of standing before our congregation? Yes. Absolutely it does. And so does every other sin we commit during the course of a “regular” day. Thanks be to God that Jesus’ work on the cross comes along and makes us righteous (Rom 5.19) in spite of our sinfulness (also Rom 8.1).

You’re a sinner. I’m a sinner. Abortionists and terrorists are sinners. That won’t change until Jesus comes back. Our (yours and mine) problem comes in when we fail to see just how much Jesus had to overcome so that we (you and I) could be made righteous. Remembering (temporarily!) my own awful sinfulness helps me not become so self-righteous as to think God is content to save me and then consume the “really bad sinners” in a raging fire.

The answer to sin—for you, me, terrorists and abortionists—is grace through Jesus.

Romans 5:21 (NLT)

²¹ So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.