It happens in the church often.
It’s announced that someone has cancer. A prayer chain is formed. The meal train begins. The devotion and concern is palpable. It’s a BIG deal.
But, I believe the true cancer of the Body of Christ is unforgiveness. If we took Jesus at His word, our passion to see unforgiveness defeated would transform us and the world.
In the Master’s Program, forgiveness is one of seven practical measures of loving one another. Love looks like something. It’s a behavior. The practice of forgiveness toward others is one of the primary demonstrations of the love Jesus gave and desires for us.
Jesus is serious about forgiveness. Some of His most frightening, fear-of-God teachings are on unforgiveness. Most can recite His instruction on prayer in Matthew 6:9. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…” easily rolls off our tongue. In that prayer, forgiveness is mentioned: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matt. 6:12).”
But most people don’t recall Jesus’ teaching after the sample prayer: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matt. 6:14-15, NIV, emphasis added).”
WHAT?! The Father’s forgiveness is dependent on how we give forgiveness to others?!
I don’t think Jesus is saying that your unforgiveness is a salvation dealbreaker. But, I do think He’s saying that unforgiveness has huge negative ramifications for us and the Church. Unforgiveness is a Christian Cancer because it’s the opposite behavior of love. It breeds resentment, condemnation, and the imprisonment of all involved.
When the Apostle Peter asks Jesus how often he must forgive, Jesus says seventy-seven times! Then, He tells a frightening parable to accentuate the importance of forgiving. You probably know the parable as the Unmerciful Servant (Matt. 18:21-35).
It’s about you and me and God’s forgiveness of our debts when we do not extend that forgiveness to others. The king forgives a servant of a very large debt, but the servant then refuses to forgive another servant of a very small debt. The consequences are twofold. First, the person not forgiven is sent to jail. Second, the one practicing unforgiveness is handed over “to the jailers to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed” the king. Jesus says this is how God the Father will treat you unless you forgive your brother.
Do you feel like your life is torturous? Explore what unforgiveness you might be harboring. True freedom and health come from lavishing forgiveness on others. Freedom for them and freedom for us.
A wise person once said, “Unforgiveness is like drinking deadly poison and thinking the other person will die.” Jesus’ demand for forgiveness is not just for those we forgive. It is for our freedom—that we may have life to the full and not spiral into bitterness. We must be vigilant to eradicate any hint of unforgiveness from our lives.
So, sound the alarm next time someone in your church community tells you how upset they are with someone who owes them money or has stolen from them. Get the prayer chain and the meal train going. Don’t let them fall into the unforgiveness trap. The ramifications of unforgiveness are more dangerous than cancer. They may even cause it.
In your corner,
Rob
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