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Let them all go?
Exodus 14:19-31 and Matthew 18:21-35 seem in conflict on the subject of forgiveness.
Context
Reflection and ideas for a sermon, talk or conversation
It disturbs me how much unforgiveness we witness in the world today!
This week's Old Testament passage (Exodus 14:19-31) is a celebration of the freedom achieved by God leading Moses’ Israelite people out from the slavery of oppression. Yay! It’s a mighty miraculous witness of God’s power! Make no mistake, this was great news… for some. But, it was at the expense of wiping out a huge army of Egyptian soldiers, chariot drivers and horses. This part does not sit well with me. I know that the Egyptians were awful to the Israelites, and I know that they were given 10 chances (plagues) in order to reconsider and change their ways, but I struggle to celebrate one people's freedom and not mourn the loss of another. It is a story that has been repeated throughout history to justify the victory of one people over another – God is believed to go with one side, but not the other. When the power of God is celebrated in this way and an act of mass destruction is justified, I’m sure I can’t be alone in having a moral dilemma.
When Peter asked Jesus that awkward question about how many times he should forgive a brother or sister (Matthew 18:21-35), Peter suggests 7 chances of forgiveness. Depending on which translation you read, Jesus suggests you could forgive 77 times, or 70x7, the implication being that your capacity for forgiveness should be limitless. Jesus backs up his response by telling a story about a wildly disproportionate act of forgiveness, or the lack of it. However, even Jesus concludes the parable with a warning of what God will do to those who ultimately fail to take the path of forgiveness.
Paul (Romans 14:1-12) in his letter to the church in Rome firmly supports and justifies by the law Jesus' approach to forgiveness. Paul urges that it is not up to us to judge or despise our brothers and sisters – judgment is in God’s hands. I suppose in some ways this does bring us back to the fate of the Egyptian army?
In the sad face of recent intolerant protests, I’d want to go in a different direction and remember the warm feeling I experienced at this year’s Greenbelt Festival. Amidst the more gentle protests about the state of our intolerant and unforgiving world at the present time – from Jordan Stephens' (Rizzle Kicks) thoughtful reflections on the negative effects of the manosphere and hyper-masculinity; to four visiting artists of faith from the USA (Speech from Arrested Development, Crys Matthews, Flamy Grant and Lee Bains) sharing their thoughts on what it's like trying to live a creative, generous life in Trump’s (Christian Nationalist) America; to a panel discussion about how we engage with and talk about Christian Nationalism in the UK from a multi-faith perspective – I experienced a particular moment of enlightenment. Finding myself standing right at the front of the main stage arena, I felt the pure joy of tolerance and acceptance exuding from the very pores of the festival. Listening to a style of music that was far from my usual playlist repertoire, I stood in awe of the enthusiasm and integrity of a group of trans beatbox artists. Here, this wonderfully diverse group of people had found acceptance in the arms of an audience gathered together in God’s name! I thought to myself: Why can’t the Church be more like this? Why can’t the world? If people aren’t hurting others with their chosen path through life, why can’t people just be free to be who they feel led to be without being protested at or hounded by the narrow-minded and the ignorant?
I think I found hope because I witnessed forgiveness and tolerance in the world today. I’m sure Jesus' answer to Peter’s question still stands as much today as it did then. We will always mourn those who are lost to the seas of hatred, but God has given all people the ability to forgive our brother or sister from our heart. Let it all go!
Questions for discussion
- Have you had moments or periods within your life when you have found that you have not been able to be or express who you truly are? How did those times make you feel? Did you find it within you to forgive those who silenced or oppressed you?
- In what ways have you experienced hurtful intolerance win your church or community?
- Can you encourage people to share positive experiences of times they have been able to express their faith in ways that are fearless, flamboyant and full of heart?
Tim Lowe is a minister of the United Reformed Church, serving in the Leeds URC Partnership. He has been camping at Greenbelt Festival since his late teens (which was quite a long time ago!).
Check-in
Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people
For many people September is a month of new beginnings:
- Some will be starting “big school” or going into new classes.
- Older teenagers might be going to college or university; starting apprenticeships; or beginning their first "proper" job.
We talk about the new academic year but actually we have moved from the old to the new and now we are in a period of transition.
Transition is a period that is highly charged with emotions. There are a whole range of feelings from excitement to apprehension; joy at what is coming; sorrow at what is being left behind. When we ask the question: Have you settled in? we may expect the answer to be: Yes! but really there is often a while before we have left the period of transition and are truly settled. These emotions overwhelm us whether we are Prince George facing a rainy first day at Eton; the Duke and Duchess of Sussex coming to terms with life back in the UK; or the child facing their first bus ride alone to their new secondary/high school.
These emotions must have overwhelmed the Israelites as they followed Moses through the Red Sea. There would be relief at leaving the hardships of Egypt behind them but also apprehension, maybe even fear, at what future the other side of “the sea” held for them.
God was with them. God didn’t necessarily take away the emotions they were feeling but God enabled them to cope with them. In a sense all of life is a transition. We do not know what tomorrow will hold but, of one thing we can be sure, God will be with us just as God was with the Israelites. God may not take away the traumas but going with God gives us the strength and courage to get through.
Methodist minister Revd Stuart Wild lives in St Annes on the Sea and has not yet seen the sea in the Ribble Estuary part and the way across to Southport become completely dry.
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