Forgiveness in the Face of Evil

We can be encouraged to more effective prayer and recognize that we have been granted access by
God the Father to His throne through our Lord Jesus. We can also seek to remove the barriers that can block our prayers. Mark 11 says:
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Unforgiveness is a barrier to effective prayer.  We have to make sure that we are not harboring bitterness or resentment in our hearts, knowing that if we are unforgiving, then we cannot experience God's forgiveness and our prayers are hindered.  We are called to confess our sins, knowing that Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us and to restore us in a right relationship with Himself.

+++++

The Bible tells us that we are partakers of the divine nature, and we have the capacity to love as He loves and to exercise mercy and forgiveness. In Luke 6, Jesus taught:
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

A church in the Black Sea region of Turkey was attacked by Muslim extremists, who damaged windows and security cameras at the rented building.  According to a story on the Christian Today website, the pastor, known as Pastor Matta, had the opportunity to press charges against the vandals.

The pastor said, "During the trial, the judge asked me whether I am pressing charges or not..." He added, "I replied, 'I'm not pressing charges because the Lord asked me to forgive.'"  He continued the story: "The judge waited for some seconds and asked again, "You're not even asking for the damages they caused with the broken windows and the camera?' I replied, 'No, I don't want to; the only thing I want is it to be known that we are not bad people.'"

The Christian Today article stated that the surprised judge then ruled that even though the pastor decided not to press charges, it was his duty as judge to try the accused for causing harm to a place of worship.

The story is told on the website of the ministry organization, Christian Aid Mission.  Pastor Matta is quoted there as saying, as he faced the judge, that he "remembered the verse from Exodus 14:14, "The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace,'" adding, "We praise God because after this attack good reports for us were published in many papers, and some officials came to visit us."

The Christian Today story reports that the attackers were reportedly angered by the rising number of Muslims turning their backs on their faith and embracing Jesus with the guidance of the church. And, rather than scare people away from the church - as news of the attack and the church's response quickly spread throughout the region, many were prompted to visit the church.

Pastor Matta said that Muslims are accepting Jesus at a dramatic rate, drawn by the love and compassion shown by Christians.  His church has drawn Christian refugees who have fled from Iraq, who shared about loss and grief and persecution from ISIS.  Pastor Matta shares the words of Jesus with refugees, telling them to love their enemies.

So, this story can remind us about the power of forgiveness.  These extremists attacked the church for their Christian faith, and the pastor responded in mercy.  So often we are tempted to retaliate when we feel we have been wronged - and we should seek the path of forgiveness, which can release a special amount of God's power.

And, it can provide a powerful storyline.  The word spread about this pastor's unselfish act, and people were drawn to his merciful response.  Our acts can add to the powerful narrative of God's love through His people.

We can also be reminded of how God is at work in Muslim people. It's something that I have read and heard quite a bit about.  We can be challenged to continue to pray for the work of God in the Middle East, drawing people to Himself.