Americans Don't
Posted by marshall Tue, 03 Jun 2003 18:00:00 GMT
As we were leaving the house yesterday morning, I noticed a truck parked down the street with an American flag attached to the antenna. Across the truck's rear window were written the words:
GOD FORGIVES
AMERICANS DON'T
It took me a while before I realized that the owner was attempting to be patriotic, supporting our nation's military in exacting vengeance on those who attacked us. But to me it was a statement of condemnation -- by and large we are an unforgiving lot. Oh, we may not hold grudges against our friends when they do something to upset us, but how many of us are truly willing to forgive someone and love him/her regardless of the offense? Are we willing to forgive the pregnant teenage daughter, the accountant that has cheated us out of money, the manager that doesn't give us the promised raise, the pastor/priest that has sexually abused a child? God does.
Many of us go to church every Sunday and recite the words, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." I think that if we really understood just what we were asking, we would be too terrified to utter that phrase. I don't want God to be as harsh and judgmental as I am.
