Recovery Christian Center Daily Meditation - 7/15/13 - The Bondage of Unforgiveness

Recovery Christian Center Daily Meditation - 7/15/13 - The Bondage of Unforgiveness

"Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull,[e] they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice." Luke 23:32-34 NLT

Many of us sat in disbelief, shock and anger late Saturday evening as the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case was published. We felt hurt, sadness, disappointment, deprived of justice, and some emotions much darker than that. Many of us knew that if the racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of the involved individuals had been different then the outcome would have been too. Our feelings are justified, but we still accountable to God for how we act. 

Any of us who lived through the devastating riots following the death of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X or the ones following the acquittal of the police officers involved in the beating of Rodney King know that, as much as it might have felt good to release our anger, a senseless violent response to a senseless violent act changes nothing. The Word tells us to be angry but do not sin. We will accomplish nothing by acting out and will only end up hurting ourselves spiritually. 

As a father that has lost a son to gun violence, I understand the pain, the anger, the grief, the shock, the loss, and thinking I wanted justice when I really wanted vengeance, but as a believer and a recovering person, I know that holding on to all that stuff only hurt me.

The problem with resentment, unresolved anger, and unforgiveness is that it does not usually affect the individuals that hurt us, but it does keep us in bondage. We don't just forgive to release the other person, but to release ourselves into freedom. That freedom is necessary to effect real change. While our anger is justified and should be put into marching, organizing, peaceful assembly and action, lobbying the government, voting, and campaigning for change, we can not afford to allow it to overtake us and push us into violence. 

As Jesus said after being nailed to a cross for our crimes, while committing none of His own, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." After all we have been forgiven for we can't afford to let the bondage of unforgiveness overtake us.