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“The guy in the Easter bunny suit kicked his ass.” – Mallrats
What do Paul the Apostle and Jack the Ripper have in common? Same middle name. (memes as found today)
One of my earliest memories was of being a kid at Sunday School, and I think I was probably about four. I recall the Sunday School teacher giving us crayons and coloring sheets so we could color a picture of Jesus. I took a bright purple crayon and began coloring Jesus’ face. The Sunday School teacher came up to me and asked, “Johnny, why are you coloring Jesus’ face purple? He wasn’t purple.”
I responded, “He’s Jesus and he’s God, so he could be purple if he wanted to be purple.” I recall distinctly her not responding to that.
See? Even as a kid I was insufferably smug, and I didn’t even have to mention to her that he never wore pants.
Water isn’t the only thing that Jesus made wine.
For whatever reason, I seem to think that this happened around Easter, which brings us to the topic of rebirth. Even if you’re not Christian, the idea of forgiveness, sacrifice, and rebirth that is told in the New Testament is a powerful one, even if the story of the Resurrection does contain a lot of cross-referencing.
Forgiveness is a big topic, and an important one. As the old joke goes, a nun asked a child, “What do we need to do before we ask the Lord for forgiveness?”
“Sin.”
There’s a bit to think about there. First, it’s not a great joke because it references neither flatulence, Kardashians, nor PEZ®. But it does have a really good point.
I’ll admit, some mistakes are fun to watch.
First, before forgiveness is the gentle art of screwing up. And that doesn’t just mean a bad outcome, it more often refers to a loss of virtue, either momentary or prolonged. Doing the right thing and getting a bad outcome?
I’ve done it, and remain stubbornly proud of those failures. Of my failures, those are 100% my favorites, like the time I got yelled at for not doing something that was a Federal felony. Yup, that was my week at that job.
I don’t need forgiveness for that.
Thankfully my boss wasn’t a Kardashian.
The ones where I wasn’t virtuous? Or, even sinful? Yeah. I need forgiveness for that. YMMV, but I start with the Big Guy, and then work to forgive . . . myself. The one thing I think I could never get forgiveness for is eating dog – I don’t want to suffer eternal Dalmatian.
It’s important to remember that virtue isn’t a video game – doing things well and virtuous doesn’t guarantee winning. It doesn’t guarantee happiness. It doesn’t guarantee living. In fact, there are times that the virtuous path ends up resulting in guaranteed death.
For some people, that’s hard to hear. The idea has been drummed into many folks that being rich is a sign of a virtuous life. My easy counter to that is: George Soros, whose life is like cancer and syphilis had a baby.
Sometimes people are the same level of dumb as they are Evil.
Is having an easy life a sign that people lived a virtuous life?
If so, explain Jeff Epstein or Bill Clinton.
And actual forgiveness that works requires more than, “God didn’t give me a bike, so I stole one because God helps those who help themselves, so I forgive myself.”
No, sorry. Forgiveness requires a dedication to be more virtuous, and isn’t an excuse for being a tool. Otherwise, Sam Bankman-Fried would be considered for sainthood, because I’m sure he meant well.
When memes become reality.
I’ve focused mainly on getting forgiveness, and forgiving myself. There’s a third aspect, and this is one I’m going to admit that I’m not as good at: forgiving others.
I’m still working on that. The Mrs. keeps telling me that if Jesus can forgive the people who put the freak in French fries, I can forgive anyone. I said, “There is no freak in French fries.”
She responds, “I know.”
Genius or cursed? I can’t make up my mind.
So, I try to get better at forgiving others. For me, that’s the hardest part. But then I remember, that I’ve been forgiven.
I guess I’m a work in progress. But no one said it would be easy, not even Jesus. And he can be purple if he wants to.
Happy Easter, He is risen!
Well said, John. Happy Easter, all!
Happy Easter! I hope yours was perfect, and forgive you if it wasn’t.
Second that “Well Said” and Happy Easter. He has Risen!
Rule of threes speaks of the timeline of lack causes death.
I add to that list from reading Gulag Archipelago and the reports from POWs:
3 months without Faith you suffer and die.
Faith is the most important prep.
Actually, its “seven days without prayer makes one weak”.
FIFY But now it doesn’t fit the rule of threes.
Faith is crucial. Grandma McWilder had a little saying in her house, “Cheer up, the Sun has not gone out of business.”
He is indeed!
And thank you!
And you!
We need some repentance in there.
A+.
And that goes for both here, and hereafter.
That was in there, more in a later comment response . . . .
I think Christians Undermining Masturbation would’ve been a better name.
Ha! I cannot agree more! Plus, what would Louis have done? Oh, wait, we already know.
A sincere Happy Easter to all you believers out there, from your friendly neighborhood atheist.
And, to you as well!!!
Oh, ok. I think I see it now. We’re supposed to forgive OTHERS. Let me code that in and I will get back to you.
Yup, my biggest problem (really!) but more about that in later comments.
Sorry to No again.
But No, Again.
And no supper yet.
There’s an inseparable component to obtaining forgiveness that everyone seems spring-loaded to omit (almost like we humans can’t help it. How…curious.) But forgiveness isn’t for supper unless you can get in the door, and the only key to that door is:
Repentance.
You could look it up.™
“God will forgive me; that’s his business.” is pure licentious sophistry.
No, He really won’t.
If you haven’t turned around, you aren’t asking for forgiveness.
You’re asking for a license to screw up some more. (Ask me how I know.)
God is not mocked.
And that goes for forgiving others, too. No repentance? No forgiveness is obligatory.
And that means more than crocodile tears from “I’m Sorry (Because I Got Caught)”.
Funny how the rubber-meets-the-road parts of the lessons are always the first ones to disappear from the condensed versions in popular culture. Human nature, I suppose. That’s always how you can tell they’re selling you something, and watering down the actual message.
There are no short-cuts.
Very seldom are people unsure of right versus wrong.
It’s the doing-it part (and frequently, the stop-doing-it part) that kicks us in the pants, every single time.
I was a-tremblin’, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it.” – Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer
There’s more of true wisdom in “Turn or Burn”, than in any hundred “Santa-Daddy-God Loves You And Wants You To Be Fat, Happy, And Rich” books built on half-lies and hokum.
“God will forgive me; that’s his business.” is pure licentious sophistry.
No, He really won’t.”
Actually, He already did.
When does God forgive? Already.
There are several premises in your post that are inaccurate. God may actually be better than you’re giving Him credit for.
Isa 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
They didn’t ask Him, but He forgave them regardless. Preemptively. And He didn’t do it for their sake, but for His own.
And in the NT;
Mat 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
The lame fellow didn’t ask for forgiveness either. But it was extended to him anyway. An exception? Nonsense. The LORD Jesus Christ never changes. The same yesterday, today, forever.
Joh 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
She didn’t ask Him either.
You mention Repentance, but omit Remission. Don’t confuse forgiveness and remission. They are two different things, and different words in the Greek; aphesis and aphiemi. One is a noun, the other a verb. One is conditional, one is not. Forgiveness is God erecting a bridge between you and Him (over the gap created by your sin; Isaiah 59:2). Remission is you crossing it. Forgiveness allows Him to deal with you, but will not get you into Heaven. Remission is what makes you eligible to go Up Yonder. (See Acts 2:38).
Repentance, by the way, is a gift. One He gives us. See Acts 5:31, 11:18, and 2 Tim 2:25. You can look it up.
2 Cor 7:9-10 talks about godly sorrow, which works repentance. We are not capable of generating anything godly. He opens the window for repentance. We decide if we will enter it.
Rev 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
“Gave…space to repent”.
This is not an easy believeism, everybody goes to heaven Gospel, by the way. Few will find the gate that leads to life (Matt 7:14), and of those who find it, fewer still will be able to enter (Luke 13:24). The good news about this gate is found in 2 Peter 1:11, provided the verses prior are attended to.
Anyway…
We are to forgive others the same way He forgives us; preemptively. We shouldn’t wait to be asked to forgive. Like God, it benefits us to do it first.
Like I said before, He may actually be better than you’re giving Him credit for.
He’s certainly better than we are.
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and will pray and will seek my face and will turn from their evil ways, then I myself shall hear from the heavens and will forgive their sins and heal their land.” God, II Chron 7:14
“But if the wicked returns from all of his sins that he has done and he keeps all of my statutes and he does justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die! All of his transgressions that he committed will not be remembered against him. Through his righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I delight by any means in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord Yahweh, and not at his turning from his way, so that he lives?” – God, Ez. 18:21-23
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – John the Baptist, Mt. 3:2
“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” J. the B., Mt. 3:8
“I baptize you with water for repentance” – J. the B. Mt. 3:11
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” – J. the B., Mk 1:15
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus, Mt. 4:11
“I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” – Jesus, Mt. 9:13
“Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” – Jesus, Mt. 11:20-21, Luke 10:13
“The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” Jesus, Mt. 12:41
“They went out and preached that people should repent.” – Peter, Andrew, James Z., John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James A., Jude, Simon, Mk. 6:12
“But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” – Jesus, Lk. 13:3
“there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons” – Jesus, Lk. 15:7
“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.” – Jesus, Lk. 17:3
“and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations” – Jesus, Lk. 24:47
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Peter, Acts 2:38
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out” – Peter, Acts 3:19
“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” – Paul, Acts 17:30
So that’s not even half the texts from Genesis to Revelation I could point to, cbpreacher.
I only have God Almighty, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, all the Disciples, and the Apostle Paul (so far) stating unequivocally that repentance is fundamental to forgiveness, Jesus himself stating that calling the lost to repentance is his primary business.
The entire Book of Revelation is God himself telling both the Church and the World to repent, and cataloguing the punishments of those who refuse in horrific detail.
And when Jesus talks about us forgiving others, he explicitly requires their repentance in each and every description, exactly contrary to your assertion. Funny (or not so?) how that detail escaped notice.
Your gospel has a rather unfortunate hole in it, and an elemental truth has leaked out.
Best patch it, and recover what’s missing, before you find it empty of anything whatsoever of any value.
QED
Thank Heavens He can forgive the imperfect, because otherwise I’ve got no chance.
Actually He demands perfection, but that bill was paid in advance by Someone Else, on behalf of those who never could.
But He requires repentance.
Even the thief on the cross could pull that much off, even as he died.
This is where my semi-asperger self comes into question. I’m an all or not type personality. I know when I screw up once that I’ve messed it all up. Theoretically, it should be possible to be sinless. I can’t be halfway in to anything, and I can’t lead a sinless life. I don’t know if it’s a try harder scenario or repent more one. I feel like a fake going into church knowing I sinned that week.
Every time you look at some yoga pants in a gym, you’ve already committed adultery.
Being facetious, maybe it was easier with tunics.
All you need do to receive grace, is to accept it. With everything that implies. And isn’t that just the hardest thing in the world to do?
It’s right up there with, “Now go forth and sin no more.”
Aesop, I disagree with you on a lot of points, but you nailed this one. I’m slowly working my way back from a life of sin. Can’t have you’re cake and eat it too.
You’re a good writer. Always enjoy your comments whether I agree or not.
I agree, mostly.
Personally, my biggest growth has been in learning about repentance and following it up with action. It made me better. Repentance is actually quite wonderful for the soul – it’s a cleanser.
I nosed a bit around that topic, because I’m really, really good at forgiving those that are really sorry. That’s actually not hard. It’s not that I promise to trust them, but I can forgive.
But what about those pieces of crap who don’t sincerely ask for forgiveness? It’s hard for me. They don’t repent, and I have a hard time letting it go.
This is the hard part for me. I know I don’t deserve the Grace of God, but He seems to be okay with me. I have no idea why, since I am (as most people are) such wretched creatures.
Repentance is necessary for the sinner. But is it necessary for God?
Whew. Not my job, but it looks like He forgives a lot of crap I can’t.
Repentance is necessary in order to accept grace (merited by Christ) which satisfies Divine Justice. God doesn’t need it ( he doesn’t need any human individual in heaven- despite how awful I think it would be without wonderful wonderful me).
Another way to look at it is that nothing evil can be in the Presence of God- therefore it is a supernatural fact that one must truly be changed in order to have Him dwell within you. Also is the basis for purgatory for those who die before giving up all their attachments to sin. Purgatory is a gift- not a curse.
Repentance is a gift for me. As is forgiveness.
I came to grips with this and gained a much better understanding of it thanks to God. My brother in law (best friend for years, introduced him to his wife (my sister in law), introduced him to all of his friends) needless to say we go way back. He went from libertarian to commie because he wants me and you to pay for his PHD in COVID shots…. Anyway, he cheapshotted me and lied about it for years. He occupied space in my mind rent free until I brought it to the Lord and forgave him. I then realized it’s for you and not for them. He no longer lives rent free in my head. I no longer have urges to beat the f…snot out of him. The Lord took that evil and hatred out of my mind. Take care of yours then you and let the Lord deliver justice.
Yup. And I try to let go of the need to be right, and let the Lord take care of the Lord’s things.
After decades of service to the church, for example, running the A/V system during worship, I claim that there can be no community without a culture of forgiveness. If I had to live with every bad mic level I’ve let out, every camera pointing the wrong way, I’d walk away from the position… and who would take it on? We are justified in asking for forgiveness when we’ve tried to do good but have fallen short of the mark. If we deny our errors, we cannot learn from them. Remind me of the times that I’ve burned a meal, and then ask yourself why I’m not cooking for you any more.
If I say “I’m sorry. I did what I could, but it wasn’t enough. What can I do to compensate?” and you answer “I just want you to not have done that thing that you did.” Then you’re sounding just like my ex-wife.
Ha! Yes!
And repentance of my bad ways has led to the best things in my life. But bugging me about them later?
Not helping.
“I’ve focused mainly on getting forgiveness, and forgiving myself. There’s a third aspect, and this is one I’m going to admit that I’m not as good at: forgiving others.”
Here, you and I differ. Knowing how flawed I am makes it easy for me forgive anyone (though I NEVER objrctively forget).
OTOH, at night when I can’t sleep, I mentally review literally every mistake I have ever made that I can still recall. That is not a soporific. Enter Sadman.
Oh, I run through those as well. I just blot my errors (that I’ve repented for) out. Like Popeye, I am who I am.
After five years away*, my wife came with me to Mass this morning. Praise God. Baby steps are still steps toward Him.
*”Reasons”
Amen. By the way, loved the interview. Thanks for sharing!
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God bless. Happy Easter. You’re a bright light in a dark world. Keep on keeping on man. I look forward to this blog every M/W/F. Thanks.
He is risen
Anon556, thank you. To share a secret, it brightens my life to write ’em.