When I reflect on the people who have hurt me the most in my life, I realize the Christian commandment of forgiveness seems beyond my strength.
Sometimes I can do it, and then some days I feel a fury I cannot calm. A brief memory, bumping into the wrong person, a word or a phrase that is said, and suddenly I am back in those times of my life when I felt surrounded by the pain inflicted upon me.
So I pray for these people every morning and every night. I pray for the strength to be a true follower of Christ. I do this because I remember one painful truth: I also have inflicted pain on people. I am an enemy to some, a painful memory and a lingering difficulty for others. I am this because I have not always made the choices that properly reflect my Christian faith. And in doing so, I have broken the laws of God.
Nathaniel Manderson
Perhaps the people I have hurt cannot forgive me, but Jesus does. Completely and absolutely. Not because I am worthy, good and humble, but because Christ was all those things and he died, took on my punishment and saved me from my sin, my selfish desires and my ultimate condemnation and separation from God.
Forgiveness is the foundation of the Christian faith, one the evangelical leadership and fellowship have largely forgotten in America.
Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us — unless they are not U.S. citizens and/or agree with the “wrong” political viewpoints. This is the new version of the Lord’s Prayer, and not one evangelical leader has even batted an eyelash.
“It is not just American democracy that is in crisis, but the souls of the evangelical leadership and their followers.”
The Lord’s Prayer is a fascinating study, but there is only one line Christ gave special attention to. Jesus made sure to clarify that if we, as followers of Christ, do not forgive, then we will not be forgiven. It is hard teaching for most people, considering the people in our lives who have hurt us. However, a follower of Christ has a higher calling. We forgive when we don’t want to, we forgive when the person does not deserve it, and we even forgive when they are still hurting us.
This is why it is so baffling to watch the fellowship of evangelicals rejoice as President Donald Trump’s administration attacks the “foreigner” in word and deed. Trump and his evangelical following offer a blanket condemnation of the people they consider to be trespassers residing in America with absolute disdain.
Many liberal commentators make note that once one group of people is targeted, it is just a matter of time before another new “enemy of the state” is declared and rounded up. I agree, but as a minister and follower of Christ, my concern goes much deeper. It is not just American democracy that is in crisis, but the souls of the evangelical leadership and their followers.
Forgive not, and you are not forgiven. That is eternally bad news for all those who have followed these evangelical vipers currently leading the American evangelical church.
Forgiveness is the hardest path any person can take. I don’t like to do it. I admit when I hear about something bad happening to someone who hurt me, I feel a certain satisfaction. I know I am not supposed to feel that way, but that feeling creeps up into my sinful head.
I’m not entirely sure how to forgive. I try to take the steps Christ took. I come up short every day, but every morning I get back on the path, and then every night I ask for forgiveness for coming up short.
I will say this: These people currently being targeted in the U.S. have done me no wrong. I have the privilege of working with first-generation and low-income families through my work in education for more than 20 years. I have found them to be the most honorable people of integrity, along with having tremendous commitment to hard work, to their families and to their faith.
“Christ gave us the orders about trespassers. Forgive them, or you will not be forgiven.”
Perhaps to some who do not know these families, they are simply trespassing against us. Well, Christ gave us the orders about trespassers. Forgive them, or you will not be forgiven. Eternal separation from God and condemnation from Christ, who offered absolute forgiveness, regardless of our sin, our past and our spiritual documentation.
The ultimate truth about forgiveness is its impact on the heart of an individual and the heart of a nation. If we hate those who have hurt us or trespassed against us, we cannot forgive ourselves for the mistakes and wrongdoings of our lives.
Our painful regrets go beyond picking the wrong job or the wrong partner. It is about the times we have been selfish, hurtful, judgmental and prideful. Forgiveness of others opens the doors of our hearts to forgive ourselves.
A healthy nation — a healthy individual and for my Christian brothers and sisters, a healthy Christian — works every day at forgiveness. It strengthens the soul and brings together a nation. The opposite approach tears down a person, rips apart a country and destroys our souls.
Nathaniel Manderson lives in Danvers, Mass. He was educated at a conservative seminary, trained as a minister, ordained through the American Baptist Churches USA and guided by liberal ideals. He has been a pastor, a career counselor, an academic adviser, a high school teacher and an advocate for first-generation and low-income students, along with being a paper delivery man, a construction worker, a FedEx package handler, Amazon driver and hospice chaplain.