Christmas is about forgiving
by James Simpson

Potomac News
Friday, December 26, 2003

Contrary to what I read in many articles every December, Christmas is not about "giving." It is about "forgiving."

We are supposed to be celebrating Jesus' birth on Christmas. Yet every year Christmas becomes more commercial and secular.

However, even those who celebrate Jesus' birth risk missing the forest for the trees. In other words, we risk losing the message when we focus on the messenger.

What is the significance of Jesus' birth? It is our salvation. Jesus paid for our sins when he died on the cross. He did this because everyone falls short of the Grace of God.

As stated in John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that who ever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life"

We should be emulating the lessons of Jesus, not simply praising his life. And we should be doing this throughout the year, not only in December.

There are many instances in the Bible of Jesus telling us to forgive those who trespass against us, which brings me to the point of this particular column: capital punishment.

Before I go any further, I will let readers know that I have never lost someone close to me through murder. I am not writing out of experience, but rather from what I have been taught as a Christian.

I personally believe that our use of capital punishment is immoral in the eyes of God. Everyone has the right - in fact, the responsibility - of defending their lives, and the lives of their loved ones, with deadly force if necessary.

But once the person who was a threat is disarmed and secured or imprisoned, the immediate threat to others is removed, and so is the right to take their life.

If we wish to live the way Jesus taught us to, we would be more forgiving. If society deems that an individual is too dangerous to let out of prison, or must pay recompense for the rest of his life, then he or she should be condemned to prison. But by what right do we decide whose life should be spared and whose should end? We have no more right to decide this then to decide who should be let into the kingdom of Heaven.

Even someone as heinous as John Mohammed or Saddam Hussein should be permitted to live.

If a murderer is executed without being repentant, then we have not allowed him the opportunity to see the error of his ways, and ask God for forgiveness.

If a murderer is executed after asking God for forgiveness, then we will be putting to death someone who God has forgiven.

If God can forgive even the most heinous crimes and allow sinners into heaven, should we not forgive those same crimes and allow an individual to live?

Jesus wanted us to forgive others for trespasses - from the smallest incident to the most significant. Unfortunately we are not very forgiving when it comes to even the smallest of trespasses.

In the parable of the unmerciful servant, Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asked Jesus "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

In fact, when someone cuts us off on the road, takes our parking space or shortchanges us, we need to all try and remember to forgive them. Just ask yourself, WWJD? (What Would Jesus Do?)

This simple gesture is returned ten fold. When you forgive a weight is lifted from your soul. Your spirit is renewed. It is very redeeming and releasing. This is unexplainable but true.

I hope that folks will remember what Jesus taught us about forgiveness when they are waiting in long return lines after the holidays.

And I continue to pray for the lives and souls of those who have committed heinous crimes.

I hope you have a happy and safe holiday season and a prosperous 2004.

James Simpson lives in Lake Ridge.