Unity Church of Castro Valley
Sunday Message for July 20, 2008
FORGIVENESS
Today we are talking about forgiveness. This can be a very hard concept for those who have been wronged by others. It can be really hard to forgive someone who has done something awful to you. I can just hear it now, "You don't know what they did to me!" But this is what Jesus told us we must do. He said, (Luke 6:36-37) "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
THE PRODIGAL SON
All the people who had great need of enlightenment were coming near to listen to Jesus. The Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying that Jesus even welcomed sinners and ate with them. In his own defense, Jesus gave three parables about his compassion for and interest in sinners. The first was the parable of the lost sheep. (Luke 15:3-7) "So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
In the parable of the lost sheep Jesus talks about the love of the owner of the sheep for all the sheep. This is the love of the Christ for His children, good and bad.
The lost sheep represents the person who has strayed from the path of righteousness, yet the owner (the Christ) leaves the sheep that are safe in the fold (the ninety-nine) and seeks the one that is lost. When He finds him there is great rejoicing.
And if God loves his children, good and bad, then what right have we to be offended by a lost sheep, one that has wandered from the right path? In consciousness we need to bring them back into the fold. We need to pray for them, send them love, and ask for God to help them see clearly. Also, and most importantly, we need to ask God to help us to see clearly so that we can forgive. For, in truth, there are times that we are the lost sheep. And in those times, we can know that God still loves us and patiently waits for us to come to our senses and to come back into the fold.
The second parable Jesus related to those around him was the parable of the lost coin. (Luke 15:8-10) "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
The parable of the lost coin expands the idea that every individual is important to Christ. The lost coin symbolizes the erring person who must be diligently sought until recovered. The owner of the coin is the one who searches for it, even as the Christ always seeks to reclaim the lost. There is rejoicing over that one lost person. And we are that lost coin as long as we are holding resentments toward any of God's children. Resentment separates us from God and holds us in our ego's clutches. Forgiveness is the way back to God. And forgiveness doesn't mean that you approve of what they did, or even that you have to take them back into your life. Forgiveness is releasing them to God and giving up your resentments and bad feelings, so that you can continue your life free of this baggage.
The third parable that Jesus related was the parable of the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-32) "Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, "How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands." ' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, "Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, "Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.' "
This is perhaps the best known and loved of Jesus' parables. The younger son symbolizes the person who has not yet been awakened to his spiritual nature and who takes his inheritance (divine substance) from his father (God) and departs into a "far country" (material consciousness). That person who wronged you so badly - that's where he was, in a "far country." He has taken the divine substance that God gave him and got caught up in material consciousness. But, by not forgiving him - you also have gone into the far country.
The prodigal son then squanders his resources of mind and body in sense gratification. He "squandered his property in dissolute living," and the inevitable result is depletion or want. But because we are innately spiritual, the prodigal son gradually awakens to his true nature and realizes that happiness and fulfillment can come only by reunion with God. He says, "I will get up and go to my father." He realizes his errors and seeks forgiveness. He shows his willingness to return to his father's house and take a lowly position. "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."
But God is love, and love is extended to the repentant one regardless of his iniquities. "But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him." As the prodigal son makes contact with the divine source, abundance of good flows forth. His father gives him the best robe, a ring, shoes, and an opulent feast. "For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."
The elder brother was unforgiving and harsh in judging his brother, and showed no pleasure in his return. He was jealous of his father's blessing extended to one whom he considered unworthy. He was envious of his brother's good fortune and his reinstatement in the home. He was sullen and angry, and would not attend the feast.
I'm sure you have run into someone like this elder brother. They don't want people forgiven, they want them to suffer. Once someone makes a mistake they want them to suffer forever. Unfortunately, there are religions that take this stance and teach that some will burn forever in hell. If this is your attitude - you have to ask yourself, "What am I getting out of this?" Isn't it just making you miserable?
Like the Pharisees to whom Jesus told the parable, the elder brother was self-righteous. "For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command." No one is less merciful than he who is unaware of any fault in himself. Persons who know they have fallen short of goodness and ask forgiveness, come into the kingdom more quickly than those whose eyes are closed to their own shortcomings. Yet the elder brother is also a child of God and is reminded of his right to share in His good, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours."
So if you are self-righteously holding onto resentment about someone - or if you have done something to offend someone - simply turn around and head back to God. God will come running toward you and enfold you in His arms. All of your good and all of your peace of mind can be restored by simply forgiving - forgiving them and forgiving yourself.
SPEAKING AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT
Elizabeth Sand Turner, in her book Your Hope of Glory writes, "It is only by turning to God that we receive forgiveness."
(Matthew 12:31-32) "Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven."
The "unforgivable sin," the speaking against the Holy Spirit, is our denial of the presence of God within us. When we think of ourselves as sick, poor, and miserable we are denying our true nature and denying the life and activity of the Holy Spirit in us. So long as we do this we cannot be forgiven.
It is only by turning to God that we receive forgiveness. At any time we can change our minds, seek God, and be cleansed. But so long as we persistently turn from Him, deny Him, and maintain the errors of our ways, it is impossible for the forgiving love of our Father to be operative for us.
THE WILLINGNESS TO FORGIVE
In the story of Paul, in the Bible, we see the importance of forgiveness. Paul was not one of the original disciples. He never saw Jesus in the flesh. Instead, he had a vision of the Christ that changed his life forever. So, there were those who discounted him because of this.
Paul went to visit the Corinthians as an apostle of Jesus. It was an unhappy time for he was insulted and ridiculed by one of the members. When he returned to Ephesus he wrote a letter to Corinth. In it, he defends his authority as an apostle, ordained by Jesus Christ. He tells of his great spiritual experience, how he (2 Corinthians 12:4) "was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat."
After Paul left Ephesus he went to Macedonia. At Philippi he met Titus, who had delivered the third letter to the Corinthians. Titus relayed the good news that the offending member of the church had been punished and that order was restored. He also told Paul that the Corinthians held him in high esteem and were eager to hear from him. This is when Paul wrote his final letter to the Corinthians. (2 Corinthians 2:1-8) "So I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice; for I am confident about all of you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you. For I wrote you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. But if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but to some extent--not to exaggerate it--to all of you. This punishment by the majority is enough for such a person; so now instead you should forgive and console him, so that he may not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I urge you to reaffirm your love for him."
One of the surest signs of a Christlike character is the willingness and ability to forgive those who have hurt us. The human self bitterly resents injustice and defends its antagonism toward the offender. There is the deep-seated desire to pay back in the same coin. But the necessity for forgiveness plays a large part in Jesus' teaching as well as Paul's. Jesus makes it a prerequisite for prayer, (Mark 11:25) "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone." He doesn't qualify His statement by excusing those who think they have grounds for resentment. We are to forgive regardless of the wrong done to us.
Jesus also makes the Father's forgiveness of us dependent on our forgiveness of others, (Matthew 6:12) "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."
We all have done many things for which we need God's forgiveness. The law is that as we give, so shall we receive. To be able to give love, which is what we want to receive, we need only to ask God's help. It is always forthcoming. By His grace we are raised above human resentment and our consciousness is cleansed and purified. We are free of the tension and strain that an unforgiving spirit inflicts on the mind and heart. If the offender is remorseful, let our forgiveness be speedy; even if he is not, let us forgive him anyway. (Ephesians 4:26) "Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger," either for God's sake or for your own well-being.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 6:36-37; Luke 15:3-32; Matthew 12:31-32; 2 Corinthians 12:4; 2 Corinthians 2:1-8; Mark 11:25; Matthew 6:12; Ephesians 4:26
REFERENCE: Be Ye Transformed Elizabeth Sand Turner; Your Hope of Glory Elizabeth Sand Turner
--------------------
