Bearing with one another and dealing graciously among yourselves, if anyone should be having a complaint against any, according as the Lord also deals graciously with you, thus also you
Paul to the Colossians 3: 13, Concordant New Testament
I learned something about forgiveness this week while in the midst of my own trial. I had been dealing with a brother seemingly caught in his own wrong behaviors. Initially, leaning on my old church teaching, I felt that it was my duty to remind him of his deviant ways in order to bring him back into the Christian fold. Se, back in my church days that's what we did when we came across a sinning brother. That was our duty, or so we were taught. Is it any wonder, then, that so many people today view the mainstream church as being full of judgmental people? In fact, one of the main reasons that people give for leaving or changing churches is just that, to escape that condemnation which comes from others pointing out their shortcomings. Yes, I was once part of that crowd as well. But this week I discovered something which I had forgotten in the middle of my encounters with my friend. That being, what has God done with me while I was in the midst of my own iniquities? Was it in His nature to condemn me for my own bad behaviors? The apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians that we are to be "Dealing graciously among yourselves" {Paul to the Colossians 3:13}. That is, that we, as believers, are to deal with others in the same way that God has done with us, in grace and forgiveness. For the true meaning of hypocrisy is to accept the Lords forgiveness for our own shortcomings but then hold others to a different standard. I believe that this is the very reason why Paul addressed this issue in his evangel. The truth is, men have had differences and conflicts with others since time began. The fact is, it is not God Who condemns, but mankind. I've sat through many a Sunday sermon where the pastor called upon his congregation to confront a sinning brother, This is the same teaching I resorted to recently in my dealings with my friend. To be honest, it didn't turn out too well. In the midst of one of our heated discussions, he asked me something which caused me to take a step back. That question was, "Are you God?"
As I contemplated my friends question to me, I recalled a time when I was engaged in some pretty bad behaviors. From pornography to strip clubs, I was into some pretty shady stuff. All while professing to others that I was a follower of Jesus. I was afraid of bringing my troubles to my friends in the church because I was afraid of their reaction. That they would confront me in the same way that I had confronted my friend. This weighed on my heart as I recalled that, while in my own sin, that God had loved me enough to display His love and grace to me in my darkest of times. That He has dispatched His Son that my sin debt would be paid {Paul to the Romans 6:6-11}. It has never been God intention that I would stand convicted for the that which I once walked in. Paul speaks that it is only by the grace of the Father that we have been redeemed, not by anything we've done on our own behalf {Paul to the Ephesians 2:8-9}. Can you imagine the righteous crowd of Christians who would gloat that they were the ones who saved someone? This is why the words of Paul reminding us of the saving grace of the Father are so very important. For left to our devices, the price of that forgiveness would be a steep one to pay. So, no, I am not God. Who I am is His loved child who lives my life within Him {Johns Account 14:20}. Therefore, I'm called to display the same mercy and grace which has been given unto me {Paul to the Ephesians 4:31-32}. Remembering His grace towards us is the key to our forgiveness we give to others.
Let all bitterness and fury and anger and clamor and calumny be taken away from you with all malice, yet become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, dealing graciously among yourselves, according as God also, in Christ, deals graciously with you
Paul to the Ephesians 4: 31-32, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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