rev's ramblings

At bible college, we were recommended to use the NRSV (New Revised Standard version) as the "most faithful translation" of modern bibles.  I'm not too keen on Political Correctness, so when I read the NRSV version of Matthew 4:19 -  "come follow me and I will make you fish for people" - I was definitely not impressed. No wonder some of my peers called it the "Not Really Serious version"! However, when Jesus taught His disciples to pray in Luke 11:1-4, even this most gender sensitive translation begins with the word "FATHER" - one in the eye for those raving feminists who insist on calling God "mother"!

We are a complicated lot, and when it comes to the Lord's prayer, there are many arguments over the wording; like "sins" against "trespasses" or "lead us not into temptation" versus "keep us from the time of trial". But the most important point about Jesus’ prayer is what He – I’m sure quite deliberately – puts right in the middle, the meat of the sandwich so to speak, is “forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors” (NRSV). Whether you call them “debts” or  “sins”, or “trespasses”, or as I prefer, “offences”, I passionately believe that Jesus put so much emphasis on this issue of forgiveness because He knows what’s good for us (surprise surprise).  When someone upsets us, that person can waltz off into the sunset with not another thought about it. It is we, who are left festering and steaming – sometimes for years – who suffer.  Many doctors believe that illnesses such as cancer, which might otherwise lie dormant in our bodies for a lifetime, are stirred into action by the stress, distress and inner anger brought about by someone upsetting us. We can hold that anger and contempt for years, even a lifetime. That lifetime can be short and bitter if we don’t follow our Lord’s advice and forgive those who have hurt us. One preacher put it this way, “if you keep your Rottweiler locked up too long, he’ll tear your house apart”.

Coming back to “our Father”, Jesus called His Father “Abba” which when translated literally becomes “Daddy”.  Think of it, you can turn to your Almighty Creator and say “Dad, you’ve forgiven me for all the bad things I ever did, and I’m tired of holding grudges and carrying all this baggage from years ago, so I forgive …… right here, right now”. 

It’ll make you start feeling better immediately!

Blessings

Geoff

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