Against A Culture of Fear

Christians should talk to one another. And forgive. And let go. And probably lots of other stuff, too.

Fear is nothing new. It is a powerful motivator. The media uses it. Politicians use it. Jonathan Edwards used it (and a whole host of other preachers have as well, including I’m sure, the one writing this reflection). Shoot, even parents use it. There’s an element of it in the biblical prophets and in Jesus’ eschatological teachings.

Fear does play a role in the things of healthy warning.

But fear has a cousin in gossip. Gossip is that ugly thing that motivates toxic conversation and thought. Knowledge is power, or at least makes us feel powerful. Knowing something - or even thinking we know something - often has a way of making us feel like we’re in control. And actually, there is some truth in that. Some.

Jesus goes to great lengths - far lengths - to tell the disciples the extent of forgiveness in this passage before us today. And there is no theological confusion needed sorting here. Go and talk to them alone.

What a concept.

The parable of the forgiving king and unforgiving servant might feel all too near to some these days.

But it too comes back to power.

In another place, Jesus charged his disciples with holding on to sin or letting go of sin. There may be good reason to “hold on” to sin sometimes. But more often than not, it is better to let it go.

Matthew 18:15-35

“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and correct them when you are alone together. If they listen to you, then you’ve won over your brother or sister. But if they won’t listen, take with you one or two others so that every word may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses. But if they still won’t pay attention, report it to the church. If they won’t pay attention even to the church, treat them as you would a Gentile and tax collector. I assure you that whatever you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. And whatever you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven. Again I assure you that if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, then my Father who is in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.”

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?”

Jesus said, “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle accounts, they brought to him a servant who owed him ten thousand bags of gold. Because the servant didn’t have enough to pay it back, the master ordered that he should be sold, along with his wife and children and everything he had, and that the proceeds should be used as payment. But the servant fell down, kneeled before him, and said, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’ The master had compassion on that servant, released him, and forgave the loan.

“When that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred coins. He grabbed him around the throat and said, ‘Pay me back what you owe me.’

“Then his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he threw him into prison until he paid back his debt.

“When his fellow servants saw what happened, they were deeply offended. They came and told their master all that happened. His master called the first servant and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you appealed to me. Shouldn’t you also have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ His master was furious and handed him over to the guard responsible for punishing prisoners, until he had paid the whole debt.

“My heavenly Father will also do the same to you if you don’t forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Prayer

God,

Just how much do you think about the past? Like, do you ever just sit there and reminisce? Even asking the question seems silly.

I imagine you’ve noticed, but I tend to hold on to the things of the past. Why did you make me so darn sentimental? It’s frustrating sometimes.

God, help me to focus on the situation of the present and the hope of the future. Help me to let go of power and control, to live in the freedom of grace and forgiveness.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.