7-29-19<\/p>\n
There is a story about the late gospel singer J D Sumner, once cited by the Guinness Book of World Records as possessing the deepest bass voice ever recorded. He performed as a member of famous groups, and even backed up Elvis Presley for a time. Variously gruff and given to broad humor, this story showed a side of him that displayed, appropriately when all is said and done, Biblical wisdom.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n J D held sway in parts of the South, and one Christmastime he persuaded local authorities to release a prisoner whom he befriended and witnessed to, from jail over the holidays. The inmate would visit and stay with his own wife and kids. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The singer-comedian Mark Lowry was a neighbor of J D and when he heard this news he asked what the prisoner had done; what his offense had been.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDoes it make a difference?\u201d Sumner replied in his other-worldly deep drawl. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n How much do we really appreciate Forgiveness and Pardon? When Don Adams\u2019 catch-phrase in the old Get Smart <\/i>TV show entered the language, \u201cSorry \u2018bout that\u201d became everybody\u2019s euphemistic apology. A substitute, really. Once upon a time, \u201cExcuse me\u201d and \u201cI beg your pardon\u201d were more formal ways of expressing formal apologies, perhaps until dulled into irrelevance.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cForgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.\u201d This is the best-known reference to Forgiveness in our language; and, again, perhaps blunted by uncountable recitations. But we must realize that Jesus, when offering this \u201cmodel prayer,\u201d suggested a deal of sorts. He suggested that God\u2019s forgiveness is granted in some relationship to the forgiveness we show others.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But isn\u2019t God\u2019s forgiveness, as an aspect of His love, unconditional? Yes, if we repent He will forgive our sins. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But we should be prompted \u2013 by gratitude if not basic theology \u2013 to forgive unconditionally, in the same manner as God does, those who have sinned against us. Wronged us, offended us, harmed us. \u201cBut, Rick, that\u2019s hard<\/i>!\u201d (By the way, talk to God, not me\u2026) Yes, it is<\/i> hard. Almost impossible. But as God reads our hearts, He does not count the results of our forgiving spirit, but the number of times we exercise it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cForgiveness,\u201d \u201cPardon,\u201d \u201cSecond chance,\u201d and all those related impulses, elevate our spirits. Indeed they open our ability to receive God\u2019s forgiveness… more accurately to be aware of it and savor it. No longer an aspect of a spiritual bargain as we might be tempted to think, the Spirit of Forgiveness is blessed liberation you cannot imagine until employed fully and without strings.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n There are very few things the Bible suggests that God cannot do. But it says that when we are Forgiven, God takes our sins and figuratively \u201cthrows them into a Sea of Forgetfulness.\u201d I return to my question up top \u2013 how much do we appreciate Forgiveness?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Here is what I mean: have you ever done something, or thought something, that made you feel guilty? Did you repent and pray for God\u2019s forgiveness? And again, and more times, reflecting your remorse and guilt? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n