An Unforgiving Christian?

Dear friends,

Someone has said, “To be an unforgiving Christian is a contradiction in terms.” This is true because the Christian person has experienced the blessing of forgiveness before the throne of God. When we place our trust in the Lord Jesus, believing he died for our sins, then our sin is not held against us. Therefore, it is very strange when Christian people continue to hold the sins of others against them.

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells a powerful story to illustrate the absurdity of an unforgiving Christian. In the story, a man who had been forgiven the equivalent of millions of dollars goes out and viciously demands that a debtor of his pay back a few cents. He even tries to choke the fellow and throws him in prison! It is an ugly story. Sadly, however, it is repeated all too often.

When we hold grudges against others or when we refuse to seek reconciliation because someone else has sinned against us, then we are like that man. Perhaps our unwillingness to forgive others is proof that we do not fully appreciate the gravity and ugliness of our own sin, which Christ had to die for. Let’s ask God to give us a forgiving spirit toward others today.

“Then his master summoned him and said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant as I had mercy on you?” (Matthew 18:32-33).

Your servant,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder