Lent

Forgiveness hard, but helps us

By Bob Johnson

	A Lenten series on Reconciliation

One of my favorite Bible characters is Ananias. God had knocked Saul - soon to be Paul - down, blinded him, and asked why he was persecuting his people. After getting Saul's attention and leaving him helpless, God recruited Ananias to help in Saul's rehabilitation. Ananias's response was a respectful, but firm, "Are you nuts?!"

No one in Ananias's world was more despised and feared than Saul. He defamed and mocked Ananias's faith and commitment to Jesus, and was convinced that followers of Christ were a criminal element that needed to be imprisoned and in some cases executed.

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While the Bible only provides a short description, I imagine Ananias did not go quietly. "Lord, you want me to rescue this man? What has he done to make up for his crimes? How can he come close to repaying the pain and loss he has caused? How do you know he will not simply regain his sight, then jail and execute me and your followers? What has he done to deserve your blessed mercy? Let him prove his worthiness and earn his forgiveness by faithfully suffering like your servant Job."

"Go Ananias. Do as I say!"

"But Lord ..."

"Go!"

It had to have been a long and harrowing walk for Ananias. No matter the firmness of God's command, Ananias knew that is not how it works. The forgiveness Ananias was advocating and most of us subscribe to is the last bastion of protection and insurance for the hurt, harmed and humiliated.

It is surrounded by protective walls of anger, and suspiciousness. It is awarded only after our requirements for retribution and safety are met. "What has he done to deserve your blessed mercy? Let him prove his worthiness and earn his forgiveness ..."

When we have been hurt, harmed and humiliated we are determined not to be made a fool of. Only when our value has been reaffirmed and safety guaranteed are we prepared to offer forgiveness to the offending party as a symbol of closure and with emotions that blend a sense of relief with the satisfaction of vindication.

The forgiveness God asked of Ananias is much different. It is the unconditional forgiveness of principle. It is not the end result of acts of contrition and penance. It is not supported by proof of restoration or safety. Rather it is a decision to act on principle and faith because it is the right thing to do. Not surprisingly, it turns out to be good for us.

Our faith calls us to do many things that are uncomfortable and contrary to conventional wisdom. Yet in the end, we find that God's instructions are wise, merciful and life-giving.

Unconditional forgiveness calls us to set aside our human desire to protect ourselves with anger and suspicion, and voluntarily step into the bright light of vulnerability by embracing Christ's last commandment at the Last Supper, "Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples."

In a world that increasingly encourages us to divide into camps of friend and enemy, anger and suspicion are viewed as strategic resources to protect us and keep our enemies at bay. They also intimately make us co-conspirators in the very prejudice, hate and harm we are trying to prevent.

Unconditional Forgiveness challenges us to seek the best in ourselves and others. It is not a fool's folly that appeases and capitulates to evil and injustice. Rather, by calling us to act with the compassion, care, conviction and faith of Jesus, it frees us from the choking bonds of protecting the life we have and offers us the courage and imagination to stretch and reach for a life of true reconciliation and community as individuals, families, peoples and nations.

(Johnson is director of the American Foundation of Counseling, Green Bay.)