It’s Friday Night and I am so happy for both of our SCC Campuses as we have very special things planned for both locations!
First, we have the very special privilege of hearing from Pastor Richard Dresselhaus as he brings an amazing message to us called “The Hiding Place” at our Imperial Beach Location. You won’t want to miss this great word from “Pastor D” as he brings us the Word of God.
Next, please be in prayer with our SCC San Ysidro family as Lisa and I have the privilege of introducing and installing Pastor Hector Ortiz and his wife, Silvia, as our new San Ysidro campus pastors.
It’s going to be a great SCC Sunday and it will be even better if you are with us!
Have a great weekend and we’ll see you soon…
Craig
Have you ever had someone apologize to you and it felt like the person wasn’t genuine, as if all they wanted to do was to show you how spiritual they were to forgive you? I have. I’ve also been the person who apologizes just to prove the point that I am spiritual and a good Christian. In my case, this usually happens because I’m somehow trying to protect my image and ego.
I’ve sometimes heard good Christians say, “love the sinner but hate the sin.” I’m sure there is a perfectly good explanation for this statement, but my experience has been that it’s usually said to communicate that “I’m on the bus and you are not.” This is a “spiritual” way of condemning someone and, at the same time, justifying oneself to feel guiltless, just, holier than thou, righteous, and [insert your word here].
Richard Rohr writes, “Their guilt problem was solved and that is all that matters. It is a self-serving concern to alleviate just your own guilt; it is a loving question to say, ‘How can I free others from theirs?’”*
Pastor Craig spoke this Sunday about forgiveness. He taught that forgiveness is more than just something we say. Forgiveness is something we do. He led us in a ritual of forgiveness. He labeled this ritual a “releasing” or an “unbinding” of the person who has caused you pain and suffering. Craig’s sermon reminded me about the spiritual principle taught in Step 8 of the 12 Step program. Step 8 says, “Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.”
It’s my understanding that God’s forgiveness is complete. He pronounces us as righteous because of what Jesus did on the cross (Rom. 4:24, 10:9). The reality remains, though, that our sins on this earth have consequences, and we need to repair the relationships/bonds/connections that we have broken. If we are not willing to make amends, then others will not be able to forgive us, will remain stuck, and we all remain wounded people. We sometimes need to make amends so that we can forgive ourselves too.
How can we practice forgiveness? I think the question that Richard Rohr asks is important. How can we move from alleviating just our guilt to freeing others from theirs?
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*Richard Rohr, Breathing under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps (Cincinnati, OH: Franciscan Media, 2011), 71-73.
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