When we have been wounded by the Church, our temptation is to reject it. But when we reject the Church it becomes very hard for us to keep in touch with the living Christ. When we say, “I love Jesus, but I hate the Church,” we end up losing not only the Church but Jesus too. The challenge is to forgive the Church. This challenge is especially great because the Church seldom asks us for forgiveness, at least not officially. But the Church as an often fallible human organization needs our forgiveness, while the Church as the living Christ among us continues to offer us forgiveness.
It is important to think about the Church not as “over there” but as a community of struggling, weak people of whom we are part and in whom we meet our Lord and Redeemer.
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October 27, 2007 at 2:54 pm
hockamama
why is it that we seem to put the church on a pedestal, forgetting that it is full of humans, who are also imperfect?
October 27, 2007 at 3:00 pm
poet with a day job
I love this piece – because ti does challenge us to let a lot go – asking way more of us, than of our church. But it is important nevertheless, because the church isn’t the rules or customs per say, it is the people sitting next to you in the pew. We forget that.
This great church by my apartment does not forget that, and those priests are some of the smartest I’ve ever met. They help parishioners make the choice toward forgiving the church, and focusing on the people who are in it.
October 27, 2007 at 5:18 pm
writeathome
There must be forgiveness in the church, because it is made up of fallible human beings, and even with the help of the Holy Ghost, offenses and misunderstandings will come. If we choose not to forgive, we become the ones with the problem. Have you ever seen this poem before, Helen? I think it kind of goes along with this post.
It Isn’t the Church – It’s You
If you want to have the kind of a church
Like the kind of a church you like,
You needn’t slip your clothes in a grip
And start on a long, long hike.
You’ll only find what you left behind,
For there’s nothing really new.
It’s a knock at yourself when you knock your church;
It isn’t the church–it’s you.
When everything seems to be going wrong,
And trouble seems everywhere brewing;
Just take a look at yourself and say,
“What’s the use of being blue?”
Are you doing your “bit” to make things “hit”?
It isn’t the church–it’s you.
It’s really strange sometimes, don’t you know,
That things go as well as they do,
When we think of the little–the very small mite–
We add to the work of the few.
We sit, and stand round, and complain of what’s done,
And do very little but fuss.
Are we bearing our share of the burdens to bear?
It isn’t the church–it’s us.
So, if you want to have the kind of church
Like the kind of a church you like,
Put off your guile, and put on your best smile,
And hike, my brother, just hike,
To the work in hand that has to be done–
The work of saving a few.
It isn’t the church that is wrong, my boy;
It isn’t the church–it’s you.
Anonymous
October 27, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Jolene
My pastor’s wife and I were just talking about forgiveness. She said that we have to forgive someone who has injured us EVEN if they never ask for forgiveness because we must be saved. I have been thinking on that a lot. It came to me just now as I was reading this, that is exactly what Jesus did on the cross in Luke 23:34; “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
Lord help me to have that kind of forgiving spirit within me. For I too am human and will make mistakes and I will want to be forgiven when I do.
October 28, 2007 at 10:19 am
helenl
Hi Holly, Melissa, Carol, and Jolene. Thanks for your comments. I’m not going to comment on them just now, because Nouwen’s message continues today. I’m thinking.
October 28, 2007 at 10:34 am
Jana Allard
Several years ago, we had a guest speaker who spoke on forgiveness. It was a powerful message. One of our members wasn’t able to attend the service but bought the tape. After listening to the sermon, this member came to the next service, went to straight to the altar, and began to weep. Following a lengthy time of prayer, the member stated, “I had to forgive God.” Many people couldn’t understand, but there are instances where people hold issues in their heart and blame God. Yes, there are even times when people have to forgive God. Don’t you think Job could have been a great candidate that needed to forgive God?
October 28, 2007 at 10:46 am
helenl
Wow, Jana. I never thought about that? All these comments have me thinking.
I had originally thought more about forgiving the church for – say – the Crusades and the sale of indulgences, instead of holding present-day Catholics responsible for them. I think in terms of reconciliation.