Forgiveness
Key to Spiritual Wholeness & Christ-like Ministryby Gavle Reed
What is the importance of interpersonal forgiveness for those of us called to missions? Some answers to this question may be obvious and other answers not so evident on first glance. Certainly, we could say that forgiveness is important for psychological and spiritual wholeness. But what does this mean? Perhaps it means that interpersonal forgiveness can bring us peace with our past, our family and friends, our church family or team members and God. Considering the tremendous challenges and new relationships that the mission field presents, this foundation of peace is essential.
But how does this peace through interpersonal forgiveness practically work itself out in our lives? First, going through the process of forgiving someone who has caused deep hurt, (rather than harboring resentment and bitterness) brings people significant relief from anger, anxiety, and depression. So, one has peace from past hurts. Secondly, choosing to forgive allows a person to forego passing on the effects of the anger, anxiety and depression to the original offender or to family, friends and team members. So, one has peace in relationships.
But what does this psychological wholeness have to do with spiritual wholeness? And is this entire process just about personal peace?
When people forgive one another, there are a series of steps. These steps are both a psychological and a spiritual journey:
- When we identify the unjust hurt, we can ask God to help us do that clearly.
- When we choose to begin forgiving, we can ask God to give us the strength.
- When we choose to bear the pain of the unjust hurt (instead of passing it onto others), we can ask God to do this with us.
- When we choose to forego resentment or revenge (however subtle), we can ask God to keep us from sin.
- When we choose to love the offender, we can ask God to do this through us.
- When we want to use our experience with forgiveness to teach others, we can ask God to empower us.
All this takes time and a commitment to prayer. Thus, we deepen our relationship with God and find spiritual wholeness. In doing so, we are fully tapping into the gift that Christ paid for on the cross . . . not just for ourselves but for others as well.
It can be said that when we choose to pursue interpersonal forgiveness, we are obeying the scriptural admonition to follow the example of Christ and to have the mind of Christ. Philippians 1: 27 "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." Indeed, as we forgive others, we are in a very real sense living out the gospel. We are giving the gift we have been given, rather than just talking about it.
As the gospel is lived out in this way, there can be:
- renewed energy for ministry,
- a deep respect for the people with whom we work,
- a sure foundation for teamwork in the cause of Christ,
- a bottomless love for those who may seem unlovable,
- and God's abundant grace to set an example for others.
If we are to bring the gospel to others, we must be willing to live it and, therefore, be able to authentically testify to the joy and freedom that God's forgiveness in Christ brings. So the process of interpersonal forgiveness is not just about personal peace, after all, but bringing peace to others as well.
Gavle Reed, Communications Director, International Forgiveness Institute. Adapted from the InterVarsity LINK Handbook, 1999.
Unless otherwise noted, all materials on the urbana.org web site are Copyright InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA. All rights reserved.
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