The Art of Forgiveness


"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:44-45

This Lenten season we've been looking at the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Along with that we're hosting an art exhibition, "The Father & His Two Sons: The Art of Forgiveness," which features a number of interpretations of the parable by different artists from different cultures and eras. One of the things that the collector, Larry Gerbens, said draws people to the collection is the rich themes of grace and forgiveness.

Grace and forgiveness are things we often consider during the Lenten season. In a staff meeting this week we were asked a question, what in our modern culture keeps people from embracing the truth of the Gospel. One of the first ideas that came to my mind was other Christians. Believers who claim to honor God but don't understand His message.

I'll never forget watching the news following the earthquake in Hati a few years back. I was struck by back-to-back interviews. The first was with Pat Robertson, acting as a spokesman for American Christians, talking about how the earthquake was punishment on the Haitian people for their godlessness. The second was with a Christian pastor in the nation who praised the name of God while leading a prayer service on the rubble that was his church. It was such a striking dichotomy, and a reminder that Christians can be the biggest enemy to the Gospel. Especially in times of unspeakable tragedy, it's important how we convey  the love of Christ.

Lent is a time when we often get stories meant to cause people to think about faith. "The Shack," based on a Christian novel, opened on Friday, March 3. It's a film that takes the idea of guilt, grief, loss and forgiveness to heart.

In the film the main character is bogged down by anger, and it's a poison to his ability to function. I love the saying that anger is like drinking poison and hoping it kills your enemy. It poisons you from the inside.

While we can debate some of the theology and merits of the film, the beauty of the story is the way it approaches the power of forgiveness, and its impact on lives. That's one of my favorite themes in film, and a crucial part of our faith journey.

During this Lenten season, when we consider all Christ sacrificed for us, it's only right that we consider what obstacles in our lives are holding us back, and how God is calling us to change our path.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more