Forgiveness

(NECN: Edinburgh, Scotland) - The only man convicted in the bombing of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie, Scotland learned learned that he would return to Libya on compassionate grounds.

Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, who has terminal cancer, was convicted in 2001 of taking part in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 on Dec. 21, 1988. All 259 passengers, mostly Americans on the way to New York, died when the airliner was blown up. Eleven people died when the aircraft crashed to into the town of Lockerbie.

This morning while running errands I heard the story come across the radio of the release of the Lockerbie bomber of the 1980's. I can't say that I'm old enough to remember this incident, but I've lived through incidents like it, and know the raw emotions of pain, terror, and loss to a common degree with most Americans.

What struck me was the conversation of forgiveness that ensued between the radio jocks. The father of one of the victims came out and said that his faith in Christ required his forgiveness and so he offered it and supported the bombers release to travel back to Libya where doctors believe he'll die in the next three months. The father is a minister, and so one host said, "Well that's his job to show mercy and forgiveness." Then they talked for 20 minutes or so about the situation with callers. In every case this morning forgiveness was beyond the capable offering of those that shared. What was most interesting to me was the recognition of "Christian" principles without any recognition of Christ. This is why I think Christianity is not making a larger impact in our country. Christianity has become a religion, and in some ways a political word rather than a spiritual relationship. Our country has moved to what 2 Timothy 3 calls a "form of godliness that denies God's power." (paraphrase) Many have lost sight of the fact that Christianity will not qualify anyone for eternal life with God. Only submission to Christ, and His forgiveness of sin. It is not a matter of doing the stuff of the church, losing sight of the Christ.

As followers of Christ we don't forgive because it is in our nature to forgive. We do so because we were forgiven by Christ. When we submit to the teachings of Christ and the work of his Spirit we take off our natural nature, and put on His nature. The closer we become to Christ the more we see him standing in front of his accusers, heading for a horribly unjust death, and remaining quiet, not fighting back. We hear his words, "Father, forgive them, because they don't know what they're doing."

As I listened this morning I heard over and over the voices of those who propagate a common theology of human behavior, and I wanted to speak up for those who have found forgiveness in Christ. Freely we received, freely we should give.

--Ben