Horizons magazine is published by Presbyterian Women (PW) the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Issue link: http://horizons.epubxp.com/i/623149
January/February 2016 33 B i b l e s t u d y r e s o u r c e Scripture: Isaiah 35:1–2, 5–7; Psalm 51:1– 12; Matthew 6:12 I've been staring at an empty screen for a long time. Writing an article to help people further study the topic of forgiveness has me paralyzed. The lesson's title, "Streams of Mercy," sounds beautiful and healing. But the practice of forgive- ness—really thinking about what it means to for- give and be forgiven—is a concept that I struggle with. Maybe you do, too. There was a conference held in September 2015 in Minneapolis called "Why Christian?" A diverse panel of women from different denominations came together and wrestled with the question, "Why am I a Christian?" The "About" section of the conference website asked, "Why, in the wake of centuries of corruption, hypocrisy, crusades, tele- vangelists, and puppet ministries do we continue to follow Jesus?" 1 Although I was not able to attend, I was able to follow the postings on Twitter (#WX2015). In the midst of a range of con- versation, the topic of forgiveness came up again and again. Apparently, the lack of forgiveness (or grace) is a reason many people cite for leaving the church. And forgiveness is a key reason people come back to the church, as well. Even though forgiveness is not easy to write about, think about, or practice—whether it's extending forgiveness or receiving it—it is some- thing we all must wrestle with. That's what I want to acknowledge. The idea of forgiveness triggers a number of (perhaps conflicting) feelings for many people, myself included. Judy Fletcher, the Bible study author, writes, "We can confess our sinful- ness more freely when we know the grace that is there for us like water in the desert" (p. 58). But let's be honest: we do not always fully trust that there is grace. Trusting that grace is there is sometimes the hardest part, especially if you are like me, and stubborn as all get-out. There is a deep, inner struggle I have when it comes to for- giveness, especially if someone has wronged me or wronged someone I love. I sometimes feel that if I forgive someone, I am somehow accepting the pain they have caused. How about you? Do you struggle in this way? Still staring at a blank page awaiting my insights on forgiveness, I looked at a number of websites to see how others have approached it. I found a sermon by Lutheran pastor and writer Nadia Bolz- Weber, who was one of the speakers at the afore- mentioned conference. She preached a sermon in 2011 on the topic of forgiveness, and it opened my heart to the topic in a new way. She wrote, "Forgiveness is God's way of combat- ing evil. . . ." She continued, "When we forgive someone, it's not an act of niceness, it's not being a doormat, it's an act of fidelity to God's evil-com- bating campaign. Forgiveness is an act of fidelity to the kingdom of God and a defiant stance For use with Lesson Seven of the 2015–2016 PW/Horizons Bible study, Come to the Waters by Judy Record Fletcher Wrestling with Forgiveness BY IRENE PAK