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Forgiven

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We are called to forgive others

One of the biggest challenges that we as Christians face is to forgive others. This is so important to our salvation that the Bible recounts several times where Jesus told us. In the Lord's Prayer, we say "and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus says (Mt 7:1-2) "Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you." Luke's Gospel recounts a similar statement by our LORD (Lk 6:37): "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven." This message of not judging is also included as one of the more important points to the story The Shack.

Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

Highlights

By Norm LeDonne
Christian Rock Musicality SSL (https://www.christianmusicality.com)
7/6/2017 (6 years ago)

Published in Blog

Keywords: Jesus, Forgiveness, Sin, Christian rock, Bible, St. Matthew, St. Luke, Crowder, New Testament

In this writer's opinion, the difficulties we have in forgiving others is one of the reasons that we frequently have trouble believing that God forgives us. How many times have we thought "what I did is so bad that God will never forgive me". Or "God will only forgive me if I (pray, fast, suffer, etc.) a little more". After all, don't we put conditions on others in order to forgive them? But, that is not who God is. God is love. Period. He loves us and wants to forgive us our sins. And, there is no sin so big that God will not forgive us.

The song "Forgiven" by Crowder captures the love and forgiveness that God has for us. In the first verse, he sings "I am the one who held the nail". Jesus forgave those who crucified him, and what sin could possibly be worse than killing the Son of God? "I've hidden in the garden, I've denied You with my very lips". Jesus forgave Peter for his lack of courage in the face of persecution; not only that, he made Peter the first head of the Church on earth. Talk about forgiveness!


In the refrain Crowder sings that we fall down on our knees, asking forgiveness. We are still holding the hammer, that is, we are still in our sin. Crowder then reflects that God comes to us with arms open, as the father of the prodigal son ran out to meet his long-lost son. We are all children of God. And we are forgiven if we ask. We are freed from the shackles of sin. Notably, this portion of the song is louder than the verses, reaffirming the importance of God's love for us and his desire to forgive us.

The second verse again recounts sins committed - doing things that one should not have done, and seeing things that we should not have seen. Can any one of us say in all honesty that these actions do not apply to us? Upon reflection of God's amazing grace, his love, and his mercy, we are all called to cry out "Jesus forgive me!"

The bridge recounts the reflection of one man's conversion. He could have been dead, both physically and spiritually. The sins were so bad that he should be burning in hell. But he felt God's forgiveness, and it ignited in him a different kind of fire - a fire of faith - a fire of hope. The joy is so great that it is unbelievable.

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The video which accompanies this song suggests a father sentenced to life in prison. His son has almost disowned him until the son receives a time sensitive letter, presumably relating that the father is dying (the woman in the white lab coat may be a doctor - she mouths the words "I'm sorry"). Apparently the son then decides to forgive his father. This reminds us to forgive those who have hurt us now, particularly loved ones - they may be taken from us before we have the chance again. After all, God forgives us. And are we more deserving of forgiveness than others?

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We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

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