The foul word, the fist, harmful theologies, the sexual dalliance, the pursuit of self—these are the fangs that inject the poison of bitterness, anger, and malice. The poison saturates the spirit, and without the antidote, it is too much. I chose alcohol to cope; others choose the eating disorder, the manipulation, the pornography habit, the cutting, the pills, the unbending idolatry of the intellect. And if we give a foothold to these coping mechanisms, don’t they change our character? Don’t we become the very thing we most despise? Don’t we inject the painful poison into our own kin?
There is an antidote to this pain. Christ offered it to his enemies, his accusers, and he taught us to extend it to ours. He said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). He entered eternity at peace with his fellow man.
We, though, cling to the wrongs wrought against us. We cuddle our pain like a newborn pup, hold to bitterness against our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers. We internalize it, adopt it as part of our identity. We nurture loyalty to our wounds, count it as some grand virtue of being human. Yes, we develop a fierce affection for our poison.
Unforgiveness is the ultimate act of the human will, I think. It is a private declaration that we know better than Christ, that we’d sooner our enemies receive their just deserts than find reconciliation.
Yet without forgiveness, we do not receive forgiveness. Without forgiveness, we compromise our unity with the Spirit. And without unity, where is the peace? Without peace, coping mechanisms make much more sense. Don’t they?
Forgiveness is the way of God. It begins along the path through pain; it stares down the perpetrator; it releases all debts. Forgiveness is the path to peace.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me. Teach me to forgive those I count as debtors: the faith healer, the theology wielders. Remove the poison from my life and restore my fellowship with you.