Forgiveness, Is That All There Is?

Announced? Did his declaration come as a surprise? Was he telling the congregation their whole purpose for life was to forgive him? It's easy to jump to conclusions, even when you are part of a conversation, but when you only hear about it ... forgive me.

Forgiveness is a major theme in the Bible, but to say it is the whole purpose of the Bible? Many are those who will take advantage of a forgiving spirit, over and over in fact, but yes, we are supposed to forgive one another, over and over IF NECESSARY. Why are we supposed to do that? Is that the end of the story? It is a means to an end, but it is not THE END.

Another thing, you're pretty foolish if you think forgiveness erases consequences. Doesn't science teach us there's an equal reaction; somewhere, someplace, somehow?

By the way, remember the old song, One Tin Soldier? Is today's consciousness really any different than before?

Is God’s purpose only that we should forgive? I always thought God's purpose was to get us rightly related to God? Then we can get rightly related to ourselves and others. Isn't the whole point of the Bible to help us get back to where we were with God in the beginning? Isn't that what life is all about, to be in intimate relationship with the Creator of everything?

Did you see the original Stepford Wives? God could make us love God, but what kind of a conversation, what kind of intimacy, what kind of relationship would that be?

If we take the Bible along-side us on our journey we will see the parallels between its characters and us. Many of its stories are every bit as foolish, hopeful, ambitious, encouraging, selfish and tragic as our own.

It is like looking into a mirror. Will we see what needs changing or will we walk away ignoring what we saw? Maybe we'll have someone else look into the mirror for us and tell us what they see. Maybe they will tell us the primary purpose of the Bible is forgiveness. (Sorry)

Unlike the Stepford Wives, we have a choice whether we want to be part of that restoration or not. The Spirit of Christ speaks to our will and our conscience, not our heads. Who can wrap their mind around the Sermon on the Mount?

Forgiveness certainly has an ‘ought’ behind it, but there's more, so much more.