October 2004

My friends,

     We all sin.  (For those who just don't believe that fact, stop reading).  Let me say that again:  we all sin.  And it's our individual responsibility to confess that sin and seek forgiveness for our sins from (#1) God, and, (#2) other people.
     And for those who have a well grounded faith, the (#1) part is feasible.  We can do that.  Sometimes it's not easy.  But we know that when we seek forgiveness from God, He's 100% willing and able to forgive us.  And to help us move on.
     But what about confessing before others.  And seeking their forgiveness.  That's quite a bit more difficult, isn't it?  Why is that?  I think it has something to do with others' reactions and responses. 
     Jesus said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you hold people's sins, then they are held.  If you let them go, then they are released."  (John 20:23)  There's a scene in the movie Steel Magnolias where one of the characters says, "If you can't say anything good about anybody, you just come right over here and sit next to me!"
     We all know how that is.  It's just so. juicy .to know all those details.  It's so entertaining.  It's so "outside of ourselves" to hear others' troubles and indiscretions.  It's easier to listen to gossip than to stop it when we hear it.  It's easier to "pass along what we heard" than to stop, think about it, and pray for the person (or people) involved.  It's easier to be shocked than to be forgiving.
     That is, of course, unless we are the ones being talked about.  Unless we are the ones seeking forgiveness from others - and being unsure of their reaction. 
     The way it works is very simple.  We know something wrong that someone else has done.   Now, whenever we look at that person, we see them through the lens of that mistake.  We hold them in their sin because their sin is now the filter through which we will always relate to them. 
     We - you and I! - are given the spiritual power to forgive and to let go.  Once we forgive others their sins, we no longer need to hold on to even the memory of that sin.  We must (according to Jesus) let that sin go.  No matter how violated and hurt we may feel -- as a result of that sin - we cannot let it become a stumbling block for our own relationship with God and God's people.
     Let it go.  If the person has approached God for forgiveness, let it go.  As much as you might want to talk about or bring it up if it suits a purpose down the road, let it go.  Jesus tells the sinner, "Go and sin no more."  (John 8:11)  We must reflect that and tell the sinner, Go, knowing that I will not hold your sin against you."
     "Oh, but Pastor Jon!  That's not realistic," you may say.  To which I must respond:  What if God forgave us our sins, but never let them go?  What if He dragged them out occasionally to beat us down with them?  Thank heaven God isn't like that!
     Instead, our sins are immediately forgiven and let go when we pray, seeking forgiveness.  No matter what has happened in our past, God can move us ahead.  God can make a way -- even when there seems to be no way.  Let's be God's people and live like God's people.  Let's not retain another's sins.  Let's not talk about what so-and-so did or what so-and-so said.  Let's not base our value judgments on hearsay.  Let's get past what happened then and focus on what God is doing in our midst now.  Let's experience the FULLNESS of God's grace and love in all our relationships.
     And much of that depends not on the other person -- but on us.
     Wishing you the fullness of God's grace
     Pastor Jon West