12-06-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
December 6, 2025
There are those who refuse to venture down the road of forgiveness because they make the assumption that forgiveness is weakness. Edwin Hubbel Chapin was a preacher and writer back in the middle part of the 19th century. He wrote, “Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it forgoes revenge.” Forgoing revenge may not be the same as forgiveness, but it is, in my opinion, the required first step. 

Now I’m guessing most of us have had at least one or two moments in our lives when we have played out in our minds some sort of revenge, or at least what we might have called some good old-fashioned cosmic justice. From a place of hurt or betrayal, I don’t find that to be all that surprising. Yet pondering it for a few minutes is not the same as putting together a detailed plan or prayer for that person to get what’s coming to him or her. Forgiving is not forgetting, but it is a relinquishing of the power the event and/or person has upon us. The relinquishing does not necessarily come quickly or easily, but if someone remains obsessed with revenge or dreaming of a day of cosmic justice, the initial injury is only magnified. 

Tomorrow in worship, we will look at forgiveness, peace, and the joy that follows.

Holy One of Mercy, teach us how to forgive, even if it is for no other reason than our own health and well-being. Show us the path, and then walk with us as both a teacher and encourager. Amen.