Mutuality | Blog + Magazine | Winter 2005
The print + digital magazine of CBE International
Mutuality offers articles from diverse writers who share egalitarian theology and explore its intersection with everyday life.
Blog + Magazine ArticlesThe opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of CBE International or its members.
Winter 2005
Volume: 12 | Number: 3
Forgiveness & Healing
Interceding for others’ sin and mediating forgiveness is a priestly responsibility, and whenever we forgive others, we are serving as priests whether our particular denomination recognizes our ordination to this role or not.
Contents
Harriet had conscientiously served the ministry’s leaders, Rev. and Mrs. Smith, for twenty-five years. The Smiths were a godly couple, and their work for the Kingdom had flourished over the years. Theirs was a model of a faithful marriage, and they were seen as blessed by God.
In addition to the ethnic, gender, and economic inequalities that have afflicted black South African women past the end of Apartheid in 1994, the plague of HIV/AIDS has added a new dimension to their struggle.
As a spiritual director, I recommend to people who are trying to heal childhood religious experiences that they return to the scene of the crime and forgive people for what happened. Little did I know that I had another important step in my own process of forgiving people for my childhood religious experiences.
I’ve always been puzzled by forgiveness. With little experience of God’s power to renew and heal — but a lot of “shoulds” in my head about how I needed to be a loving person.
Going down the stairs on that last day, I intentionally kept my hand on the rail, trying to burn the memory of its feel in my mind. This would be the last time I would ever go down these stairs — the last time I would touch this railing.
Forgiveness is at the heart of the good news of the gospel, isn’t it? Last summer I took a Bible class called, “What’s Good About This News?” because I liked the positive emphasis.
The articles in this issue of Mutuality offer insight on the nature of forgiveness and healing, as well as examples of how to practice it faithfully.
Let us encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to remain in biblical dialogue with those with whom we disagree, even when there is tension, acknowledging that we, as limited human beings, discern God’s leading in this way.
