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No one in the world has shown more willingness to forgive every human being than God.
Japan and Germany were in the opening ceremony of the Helsinki Olympic Games in 1952. / Wikimedia Commons.
The Second World War was one of the most terrible pages ever written in human history. The two main "aggressors", GERMANY and JAPAN, were expelled from the Olympics because of the deaths they had caused.
They were eventually re-admitted to the Helsinki Olympic Games of 1952, although there was still opposition from many. Fortunately, the power of forgiveness was stronger than the recent memories.
Someone once said that forgiveness is God's business. Though that isn't 100% true (never forget that God is just and his justice is always manifest and real), it does say a great deal about his character, for the simple reason that no one in the world has shown more willingness to forgive every human being than God.
No-one would die for an enemy, and yet that is what God did for us. If he forgave us, how can we refuse to forgive others?
Forgiving the one who has hurt us is one of the hardest things we are asked to do. But we have no right to harbour bitterness or refuse to forgive the one who asks, because God didn't do that with us.
And, in our turn, we must also accept the forgiveness offered by others. That doesn't mean that when we do wrong we shouldn't accept the consequences, or if we have stolen or damaged something we shouldn't make restitution.
All evil has consequences, and even though God forgives us, justice demands that we suffer the negative consequences of our actions.
This is God's greatest lesson: just as we needn't go through anyone to receive God's forgiveness (God forgives us individually, without intermediaries), we too should forgive others.
How many times? Jesus himself gave us the answer: unconditional, unlimited forgiveness. That's the kind of forgiveness we should show others. Is there anyone you need to forgive?
Archaeological excavations have shown very old representations of roosters have been found in the Holy Land, specifically in Tell el Nasbeh and Gibeon.
For some Christians ‘structure’ is a dirty word, being seen in opposition to the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit. Yet there is structure all through the Bible.
Julia Doxat-Purser: 25 years of EEA office in Brussels
An interview with the socio-political representative of the European Evangelical Alliance about how evangelical Christians work at the heart of the European Union.
Ruth Valerio: A lifestyle that cares about creation
Are Christians called to make a difference in environmental care? What has creation care to do with "loving our neighbours"? An interview with the Global Advocacy and Influencing Director of Tearfund.
Lars Dahle: Nominal Christianity, a mission field for the church
An interview with Lars Dahle, of the Steering Committee of the Lausanne Movement Global Consultation on Nominal Christianity held in Rome.
IFES World Assembly: ‘Messengers of Hope’
Students, graduates and staff of the global evangelical student movement reflected together on how the books of Luke and Acts apply to today's universities.
Christians at work - the missing link in fulfilling the Great Commission
Photos of the Lausanne Movement Global Workplace Forum, celebrated in Manila.
European Freedom Network Bridge 2019 conference
Images of the fifth EFN gathering. Experts, activists, counsellors and church leaders met in Pescara, Italy.
Porn exploits victims of human trafficking
The European Freedom Network launches a new anti-trafficking campaign: “You have no way of knowing if the porn you are looking at is from someone who chose to be there or not”.
What makes humans different to artificial intelligence machines?
David Glass, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at Ulster University (Northern Ireland) analyses whether a computer can have emotions or a conscious experience.
A tent of hope for Venezuelan refugees
Thousands still cross the border to Colombia every week, and many continue on foot into the interior. Christian young people have set up an aid station along the road.
How has Christianity influenced the modern world?
Paul Copan, Chair of Philosophy and Ethics of Palm Beach Atlantic University, explains how many key features of Western civilization, are the legacy of the biblical faith being lived out by believers in society.
GWF in Manila: “Kingdom building requires global collaboration”
850 from 108 countries met for the Global Workplace Forum, June 25-29. The gathering was organised by the Lausanne Movement. “Every workplace is a place of ministry”.
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