Welcome Home: Forgiving the Unforgivable

...despite all the scars he'd caused, despite all the pain he inflicted on those who loved him, despite the way he’d acted, despite his unrighteous choices, despite his inability to repay his debts, his father still ran to him, embraced him and said: "welcome home." 

When Jesus spoke this parable of the Father's unrelenting love, he gave us an illustration of how beautiful and powerful God's grace is, reminding us how the Kingdom of God forgives those deemed unforgivable. He told us it doesn't matter what we've done or the pain we've caused if we come, we're welcome - not a reluctant welcome, but an all-enthusiastic, all-forgiving, all-loving, all-compassionate, all-embracing, welcome. 

If anyone didn’t deserve forgiveness it was the youngest son, he'd said “screw you” to his father and went his own way - he rejected everything his dad taught him, he squandered all his money, and relentlessly did things to disappoint his family. When he came crawling back, it would have been justifiable for the father to return the favor, shout in his youngest one’s face “screw you too” and left him penniless and homeless! 

But he didn’t, he welcomed him, with an all-enthusiastic, all-forgiving, all-loving, all-compassionate, all-embracing, welcome. 

This embracing, this forgiveness, this love, is often not what I see. Sadly, this message of mercy and forgiveness has been tossed aside by many Christians who have chosen to imitate the older son instead of the father. They have idolized and become tools of "law and order", retribution, and revenge. Too many have chosen to embrace "arms of destruction" rather than using our arms to embrace. Even though Jesus said "blessed are the peacemakers", the Church has, too often, forsaken its call to servanthood and humility, choosing instead, to pursue control and power, choosing to cast stones, choosing political ideologies, choosing nationalism, choosing violence, choosing safety, choosing comfort, choosing to condemn our hurting brothers and sisters...

What I see, sadly, through working with and helping those experiencing homelessness, through frequently visiting people in Cook County Jail, and through helping those trying to find employment and housing with criminal histories, is folk who are constantly reminded of how unworthy and unforgivable they are, so as a result, they believe Jesus would never forgive them, that God's grace would never be extended to them. By living the way I do, I am constantly surrounded by the most judged and rejected people in the land; they are often instantly deemed unforgivable because of the color of their skin, because they're locked in a cell, because of the clothes they wear, because of how they move, because of their gender identity, because of where they were born, because of who they're attracted too, because of the tattoos that cover their bodies, because of the overflowing shopping cart they humbly push around with embarrassment. 

This negativity and these lies have devastating effects. It's hard to convince people they are forgiven, set free, and embraced by our loving God when all they hear is how terrible they are. I live in a nation that profits off mass incarceration and easily locks up more people than any other country, and those statistics drastically inflate even more when it comes to our black, brown, native, trans, and homeless friends. We comfort mothers who watch the news only to see another powerful man get away with murder while they mourn another son being locked up for drug possession or shoplifting. It makes no sense and the disparity is criminal, yet people still cry, "you're too soft, lock 'em up and throw away the key". When someone's been incarcerated repeatedly and has rotated in and out of homelessness, often for non-violent infractions, it's hard to convince them that they're important and that God's grace has liberated them. 

This message of unforgiveness rings true in my neighborhood, Uptown. There are those who meet and stand on certain corners, armed with cell phones, "positively loitering", ready to call 911 on anyone who does not live up to their standards. Their misguided presence creates a "we're forgiven and worthy, you're not" message. As a result, not only do the poor get cuffed for carrying an open can of alcohol but they are reminded of how unworthy they are. I've spent many hours trying to comfort those crying for mercy, weeping over how they're not worthy of forgiveness. The trouble isn't that they are forgiven by God, the trouble is they are not living in their forgiveness, and therefore, they struggle to live in the gifts they've been given and the realization of their liberation. These lies they constantly hear cause stagnation and a false perception of our loving compassionate Savior. 

What depresses me is how some of the most judgmental and condescending people are followers of Jesus, the One who elevated and embraced society’s rejects. What saddens me is how the church has become known as a place that proudly arms itself with revenge, retribution, and retaliation, while claiming to follow and bow to the One who said, “forgive others, so you also may be forgiven”. Jesus didn't slam society's "unforgivable people" like the woman caught in the very act of adultery or Zacchaeus, he didn't threaten them with weapons of destruction, he embraced them and let them know they were welcome in his family. The ones Jesus spoke against and emphatically challenged were the rich power-hungry elitists who strutted around deeming certain populations unforgivable - and they ended up being the very ones who deemed Jesus unforgivable by loudly chanting "crucify him" and hanging him on a tree! 

Not only was Jesus lynched, but he is now often lifted up and promoted as a nationalistic gun-wielding political thug who is all about control and revenge - the horrifying irony is the Lynched One is glorified as one who lynches the unforgivable. What an absurd message! How has our loving compassionate Savior become an unforgiving and revengeful Lord? This devastating message echoes loud and clear, causing recipients of grace and mercy to cower in fear and trepidation. Jesus and his message of compassionate forgiveness have been turned all around and upside down. Jesus said “follow me”, and following him has absolutely nothing to do with having the biggest guns, exacting the most political power, flaunting money, or being agents of wrath. The Kingdom of God is all about loving our neighbors as ourselves, forgiving the unforgivable, and being agents of compassion. Jesus said "follow me", and following him has absolutely everything to do with being poor, persecuted, and peacemakers.

Jesus said "follow me" and he is our example. He sat with the most undesirable, and let them know they are forgiven, worthy and precious in his sight. If we are Christ's hands and feet in this world, we need to work out how to do that in our circles. I desire a time when people know that nothing can separate them from God's love! 

Those living on the streets, those residing in our prisons and jails, those living in shelters, those walking around with felonies, those who society has condemned as untouchable, undesirable, and unworthy need to hear and know about God's forgiveness and acceptance - that God wants them, loves them, runs to them, embraces them, and says "welcome home". But our words of encouragement mean absolutely nothing if we don't follow and live out the father's example - loving our neighbors, running to them, embracing them, and saying "welcome home" also. 

By walking in the circles I do, I mourn over how certain people cannot perceive Jesus as One who forgives the unforgivable. This message of "law and order" and retribution has had a devastating effect. I've seen too many tears, where people truly believe they've done too much, that too much has been done to them, and they've been cursed to hell. This condemning message has made people think they could never receive God's grace because he would never forgive them. When we preach and live out a message of judgment and retribution, we nullify the liberating work of the crucified and resurrected Lamb. Our words and actions have a lot of power - causing many to stumble and flee from the One who sets us free. 

What difference could we make if we truly followed Jesus and forsook the nationalistic gun-toting Christianity that runs rampant today? 

What would happen if we truly followed Jesus by embracing those who are different from us rather than casting them aside? 

What would happen if we truly followed Jesus by entering the forsaken places and let them know (by words and deeds) that they are welcome? 

What would happen if we truly followed Jesus by forgiving those who've been deemed unforgivable?

• this blog is part 3 about the Prodigal Son (or the Forgiving Merciful Father).
• Part !: Welcome Home!
• Part 2: Welcome Home: Embracing the Unembraceable