Us Against Them
Division is rampant in our culture, and we believe that it is "us against them". We have more in common with our neighbors than we think, and our struggle is not against flesh and blood.
Forgiveness is the option we were given by Jesus. Pastor Garat reminds us of the gift we have been given and offers a chance for us to forgive others as we have been forgiven.
Offering forgiveness is not simply saying the phrase “I forgive you.” It is not simply saying It’s okay. It is not just saying it didn’t matter. It does not mean there are no boundaries between you and that person.
To offer forgiveness is to say…
It wasn’t okay. It did hurt. It did matter and there were consequences, but I don’t want my relationship with you to be determined by my failure, or by yours, but by the hope of what redemption would hold for us.