“Why aren’t these SJW’s (Social Justice Warriors) preaching about forgiveness? That is a hard question to answer. Maybe they are afraid the victims in their congregations will disagree and turn on them.”
(Steve Evans) Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” ~ Matthew 18:21-22
In my last article on Evangelicals and Racism, I asked the question, “When will Christ be enough?” This was in response to the constant calls for people to repent of racism they may or may not have committed. These calls have come from both white and black preachers alike, with ringleaders such as Thabiti Anyabwile, whose real name is Ron Burns, Matt Chandler, David Platt, Kyle J. Howard, J. D. Greear and all the way down to local pastors. Racial and social justice seems to be the “IN” thing to preach on these days, and, quite frankly, many of us of all skin colors are getting tired of it.
So why the Matthew 18 passage? It is because the message of forgiveness is being totally tossed aside just like the Gospel itself. Forgiveness is so intricately woven into the message of the cross that to leave it out, the message of the cross becomes pointless. When Christ died at Calvary, our sins against Him were nailed to that cross and we were freed from the bondage of sin! When Christ forgave us, He liberated us! He didn’t tell the lame man lowered through the roof to go pay penance! He forgave him of his sins! And in verse 22, Christ calls us to forgive. Why? Because we have been forgiven of far greater offenses. We have been forgiven of willful rebellion against the most Holy God of all creation, the God who would be just in casting everyone into an eternity in Hell. But He doesn’t do that to His children. Instead, He showed mercy and forgave. And He did it nailed to a wooden cross, taking on every bit of the wrath and anger and justice of the Heavenly Father. And he did it willingly.