FORGIVENESS

Brent Anderson

Email pba@xmission.com Website www.xmission.com/~pba

Forgiveness is said to be Devine, but is this attribute a natural behavior for life on the Earth? In the natural world, the operative code of conduct is kill or die. Even the herbivores are subject to this rule, since they kill the plant tissue and seeds they consume. With respect to the concept of forgiveness, there will always be some who conclude that “lesser” life forms display flashes of such compassion. This conclusion is hard to substantiate, even in the case of more advanced species such as the Apes. Many pet lovers anthropomorphize their pet’s actions and cede to them human traits, including compassion, but examination will reveal that these apocryphal stories of animal forgiveness are motivated by genetic-based cooperative tribalism (think of bees, wolves, Chimpanzees, Baboons, Elephants, etc.). Investigation of such claims always reveals the motivation of vested interest in shared genes, or in adoption of pets into our human family or tribal structure. Obviously, this same genetic imperative applies to primitive man as well. Of all Earth’s creatures, only men and women who are on the path to spiritual enlightenment are fully capable of compassion and actively forgiving the trespasses of others. This transformation from the instinctive is a consequence of what must be a spiritual rebirth of a man or woman. Such a change testifies of the future divinity of spiritually reborn men and women. All other life forms of the Earth were created in permanent innocence, and are expected by God and man to live their lives as dictated by their genetic programming. It is extremely important to understand that while man has the spiritual ability to forgive, that this is not an innate ability born of the flesh.

Further clarity of understanding with regards to the flesh is gained by understanding that our bodies are composed of atomic elements that were formed in what are now collapsed stars. The gravity wells surrounding the Sun and Earth subsequently collected some of those elements, which are now part of the Earth. These same elements are the building blocks of our bodies, and of all the life forms found on the Earth. The motivational energy used by our bodies is derived from the Sun’s radiated surplus energy that is subsequently trapped by the plants of the Earth. It is fact that we are physically related to the lesser creatures of the Earth by virtue of shared genes and body chemistry. Our genes promote survival of the fittest in many different ways, including an urge to dominate food sources and sexual partners for procreation. The “natural man” is ruled by the same genetic imperatives as all other Earth life forms, and has no innate genetic programming for forgiveness. It is quite evident to most that man, the animal, is superbly equipped to flourish in the kill or be killed environment of present day Earth. Because of this the mental transition from what is natural to becoming spiritual, forgiving and compassionate is not easy for man. Developing this skill can, and usually does, takes years of dedication and work. The importance of this transition cannot be overstated. Each of us needs to acquire this Godly attribute during our short physical lifetimes.

Our Father (God) has urged His Children to first love, and second forgive the trespasses of our literal brothers and sisters. In a way, we might think this teaching would work well with the tribalism that is genetically encoded within us. Unfortunately, that genetic imperative in man is limited to relatively small groups such as might be found in a family or tribe in ancient times. Because of this limitation, we are still challenged to forgive the rest of the several billion of our brother and sisters currently existent on the Earth. The difficulty is exemplified by the sad fact that some have a hard time forgiving close family members for their real and imagined trespasses.

Our Father stressed the importance of this principle throughout time, and our Savior plainly called for forgiving seven times seventy. When he made this point, he was talking to our brothers and sisters (who lived two thousand years ago) about, what for them was, a huge number. The point was not to forgive four hundred and ninety times and stop, but to continue infinitely. He further instructed that if someone strikes you, turn the other cheek. These teachings were of a spiritual nature, and when followed will lead his followers to the peace of mind that the Savior offers to those who become long suffering and forgiving. In no way was this formula a way for getting ahead in the world of natural men. Natural men who follow their genetic imperative will seek to gain and exercise power over others, and they look down on displays of compassion as manifestations of weakness, to be exploited.

The opposite of forgiveness is hatred, and this is a natural behavior that fits well with the genetic tribal programming of our bodies. A good example of this is the tribal warfare that reigned in the prehistory of man. Even today we see Indian tribes in the Amazon practicing this imperative by killing any male member of other tribes that can safely be ambushed. These tribes usually refer to themselves as the “people”, and all others are therefore not people, but animals to be slain, eaten or in the case of women and small children enslaved. For these tribes of men and women, all other groups are feared and hated. Hatred of potential or actual competitors is natural, and a result of our genetic programming.

If we consider the psychological ramifications of forgiveness, its merits become quite apparent to almost anyone. There are very few of us that are not aware of some individual who has given him or her self over to hatred. The result is always the same; the individual who allows hatred to burn within will eventually be consumed by the inner conflagration. That is, unless they give up the hatred by replacing it with forgiveness. The transformation in such a case is remarkable, and all who know the individual see a dramatic change for the better. No matter where we find ourselves in life, we each, to varying degrees, harbor little bits of hatred within ourselves. Fear and hatred are very close to synonymous, and there are few who have completely shed all their fears. If we consider someone who is frightened by spiders or snakes, it would be very hard for them to say that they did not hate the animals they fear. Even these hatreds when fostered and cultivated can cause mental disease in an individual. Hatred is a very potent spiritual poison, and its work is insidious. Forgiveness is a potent spiritual remedy, and it brings an end to many of the psychological ills that beset man and woman.

Our Father has instructed us to ask him in prayer for his forgiveness of our weaknesses and misdeeds. This is the first step in the process of repentance. The second is trying to make amends with any of our Brothers and Sisters that we have offended. The third is to forgive our own stupidity as we struggle to make life decisions of which our Father would approve. It seems evident that the process of eliminating poor decision making and the underlying mental illness within each of us requires a great deal of effort. So much that the conscientious follower of the path blazed by Jesus Christ is faced with the reality that the removal of each flaw only reveals another to be worked upon ad infinitum. In truth, this journey is life long, and is only interrupted by our own personal physical death.

Our Brother, and now God, Jesus the Christ sacrificed his life and body to pay the price for our sins making it possible for us to rather painlessly repent. From this perhaps we can appreciate the importance of we, the forgiven, forgiving our peers in this life. How can we ask our Father and our advocate Jesus Christ to forgive us if we cannot forgive others? The answer to this question is critical to each of us, since we must answer it when we leave this life. The answer is a simple yes, I have forgiven, or no, I have not forgiven. For those who choose to remain an animal in nature and disposition in this life will come a time when they will be faced with our Father’s justice, which may well require payment for each and every hurt bestowed on others. There will be no monetary fine in His court, nor will there be a powerful advocate, save Jesus Christ, to plead the case. Will Christ plead for you if you never accepted him as your Savior, or tried to improve yourself by following him? The unrepentant that have caused hurt and harm will pay by suffering the same pain, which they inflicted on others. The suffering for such will be exquisite, because of the clarity and sure knowledge of the hurt others felt because of selfish or uncaring actions in this life.

Our individual physical births are in fact the beginning of our temporary spiritual deaths. We come into this life as babies who are totally ruled by instinctive genetic programming. Our goal throughout life should be to regain our former spiritual knowledge. We must learn to cast off the natural man and become like our Father. To do this, it is imperative that we learn to communicate with our Father and Family back Home. Such communication is impossible if we fail to become spiritually reborn. Such a rebirth is impossible if we fail to learn to love our God and fellow man as ourselves. The proof of such conversion is in the quality of our forgiveness of others. The Savior marked the path for us to follow, and without our own forgiveness for others, he will have little reason to plead with the Father to forgive us our trespasses. Will you hear my beloved Brothers and Sisters, or will you procrastinate until the end of your physical life, and end up paying the price for your own trespasses before returning to our beautiful Home?

Copyright 2003