A DANGEROUS Prayer???

Over the years, I have referred to the Lord’s Prayer as the most dangerous prayer a Christian can pray, and when I’ve said that, I have gotten more than a few furrowed brows turned my way. The implicit message I’m hearing is, “How in the world, preacher, could you consider in any way the Lord’s Prayer to be dangerous? Jesus wouldn’t give us a dangerous prayer.”

Well…I’ll concede that, like most scripture, on the surface it does not seem that dangerous. However, taking a closer look at what is actually going on here might at least give us pause, if for no other reason than after giving us the main text of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus goes on to offer some clarification about one particular phrase. This clarification winds up providing us some invaluable context for our own situation while also giving us insight into how God’s grace, peace, mercy, and love are manifest in creation.

Let’s take a look at Jesus as found in Matthew 6:14-15 -

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

One of the most important questions you can ask while reading scripture is, “Why?” In answer to why Jesus would see the need to add this kicker to his previous words, I think it is rather obvious - our God is quite serious about the need to give and to receive forgiveness, for our practice - or lack thereof - of forgiveness is a direct reflection of our understanding how God works.

Or, to put it another way, Jesus is not worried so much about whether or not we SAY we forgive someone else, but whether or not we actually DO forgive another.

This matters because when we DO NOT forgive another, and hold on to the wrong (perceived or actual) committed against us, we are in bondage to the one who wronged us. By putting this in terms of God forgiving us at the same level as we forgive others, we are getting a glimpse into the depth of God’s grace at work in and through us all. When we have to confront the truth that God forgives us, knowing the ways in which we have sinned against our Lord, it makes us realize that to not forgive another is to not be free to love and be loved.

To be sure, I know this is not easy for any of us, and I’m not trying to imply otherwise. However, what if we allowed ourselves to consider this matter of forgiveness not as something we have to do unwillingly and against our true desires? What if instead we allowed ourselves to embrace the idea that no matter what, we are people who forgive those who have done us wrong? What possibilities might be open to us in all of life if we but allowed ourselves to no longer be weighed down by holding on to that which has been done against us?

In no way am I saying that forgiving someone means that you should allow yourself to be put back into a situation that is harmful to you or another - and I want to be perfectly clear that no one takes away from this message that you just gotta take your lumps and ask for more. Not at all. What I am saying, though, is that we might be surprised at just how much joy is possible when we allow ourselves the freedom to forgive.

As is the case with much of what Jesus directs his followers, this is not easy. That being said, it is, undeniably, absolutely essential to the life of the faithful.