No Merit of My Own

As I watched Invictus, pools of tears filled my eyes. South Africa was a country known by it's extreme racism. The white held power and suppressed the black people of the country. However, upon a new election, Mendela, a black man, was elected President of South Africa. He promoted forgiveness and reconciliation between the races. People on both sides fought against this idea!  However, Mendela did all he could to show the 'white' people that he was for them. When the country's majority white rugby team was on the brink of being completely eliminated, Mendela stepped in and asked for a reconsideration. The team played terrible, yet the vote count barely allowed for the team to continue its season.

Yet that was not the end of it. Mendela went to the effort of going to games, learning the players names, and being there, supporting this "white" man's sport for the sake of reconciliation. As the World Cup approached, South Africa's predicted standing was not good. Experts did not expect them to go far at all. The rugby team began to learn the "black" anthem and sang it proudly in the stadium full of South Africans: white and black alike. As the South African team won games, the country began to unite. Statistics were broken by this rugby team and they made it to the championship game- the game to win it all. Thousands of South Africans filled the stadium and millions more watched all over the country. Each cheering for this one team. Each individual taking their position as a part of their country. Race did not matter anymore. The past hostility on both sides did not matter anymore. They were united. Under one leader, one flag, and one anthem.

I can go many directions in making this a relevant analogy to a part of life. I can take about how Christ is like the rugby team, uniting the people under one leader, God, regardless of race (Jew or Gentile).  But I'm going to take a different route. The route of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Mendela was imprisoned by his white counterparts, yet he did not hold it against them. The "black" people, although the majority, were suppressed by the "white" elite. There were wars. People killing each other for no reason. There was plenty of reasons for distrust when Mendela came into office. Neither side was convinced the other side cared to keep them around.  Yet Mendela showed great strength in seeking the reconciliation. There was a love for his country and for the people that outweighed what they had did to him.  He showed that he had forgiven them and through his actions, other people were inspired to do the same.

Isn't this what Christians ought to do?  Even when we have every right to be angry with a person, should we not show them love instead?  Even when someone has wronged us greatly, should we not extend forgiveness to them?  I know when I see people who have hurt me or wronged me in some way, a part of me does not want to have anything to do with them. Yet the Spirit inside of me pleads with me to forgive them, as Christ as forgiven me.  You see, when we extend that forgiveness out to someone who does not deserve it, we do it as a humble act. It's less about us. It's not about what they did to us, but it's about exemplifying the love we have been shown in Christ.

I'm not saying I have this down perfect, but it's something I have been convicted on lately. I have been forgiven a great much and it's on NO merit of my own. Well, as a Christ follower, I am to do the same thing: extend unconditional love and forgiveness, not because the person deserves it, but because we want to exemplify the God who we serve.  Then others will be inspired to do the same. Forgive as they have been forgiven.