Getting Revenge - How to forgive without regretting

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Please excuse the strange format - I preached from a mind map this week.
Getting Revenge

• Tutu Video
• Readings
  
  • Jeremiah 11:18-20
  • Romans 12:1-2 & 14-21
  • Matthew 18:21-35
• Forgiveness
  
  • Difficult
    
    • Personal
      
      • Abuse
      • Betrayal
      • Cheating in business
    • Social
      
      • Apartheid
      • Auschwitz
      • World Wars
  • Where is Justice?
    
    • Internet Ideas
      
      • Fish in curtain rail
• Turn the Other Cheek
  
  • Retaliation
    
    • Leads to dust and ashes
    • An eye for an eye and soon the whole world is blind.
      
      • Ghandi
  • Do not retaliate
    
    • Matthew 5:38-42
      
      • 
        38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
        
  • Cheek
    
    • 39
  • Cloak
    
    • 40
      
      • cf Exodus 22:27
        
        • 
          26 If you take your neighbor's cloak in pawn, you shall restore it before the sun goes down; 27 for it may be your neighbor's only clothing to use as cover; in what else shall that person sleep? And if your neighbor cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate.
          
  • Mile
    
    • 41
• Justice
  
  • We live in a moral universe
    
    • Good Prevails
  • Exodus 22:27
    
    • God hears the cry of the afflicted and vows to bring justice
  • Jesus' Parable
    
    • Forgive
      
      • 70 times 7
      • cf Mt 6:14
        
        • 
          14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
          
      • cf Mt 18:35
        
        • 
          And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sisterk from your heart."
          
      • If you forgive you will be forgiven
      • If you don't forgive you won't be forgiven
    • Parable
      
      • Slave
        
        • Owes 100 000 000
        • Forgiven
      • Other Slave
        
        • Gets strangled for pennies
  • Who's justice?
    
    • Choice
      
      • God's
      • Ours
    • We choose:
      
      • I will live by God's justice
      • Everyone else will live according to mine
    • Problem:
      
      • My justice is flaky:
        
        • I can't see all the angles
        • Retributive
      • I will be judged according to my own system
    • Solution:
      
      • God's justice
        
        • Sees the heart
          
          • who try the heart and the mind,
          • Jer 11:20
            
            • But you, O Lord of hosts, who judge righteously,
              who try the heart and the mind,
              
        • Restorative
          
          • Luke 1:52
            
            • 
              52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version.
              
              
      • I will be judged according to god's system
  • Examples
    
    • Paul
      
      • Be kind to your enemies
        
        • Vengeance is God's
        • Dt 32:35; 2 Sam 22:48; Prov 20:22; Jer 51:56
        • Prov 25:21-22
          
          • Dead Sea Scrolls
            
            • Vengeance
          • Wisdom
            
            • They'll end up confused
            • Red Faced
            • They'll think you're up to something
    • Jeremiah
      
      • 
        11:20
        But you, O Lord of hosts, who judge righteously, who try the heart and the mind, let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. (Je 11:20)
        
• Conclusion
  
  • Christian forgiveness is not unjust
    
    • We believe that God will judge us and those who harm us
    • God will set the world straight
    • Handing over your debts to God.
• Forgiveness
  
  • Is good for your health