During this Lenten season one of the themes that Christians are asked to focus on is forgiveness and reconcilation. What have been some of your experiences as a Christian with forgiveness. Has it been hard. And what are your feelings regarding reconciliation?

-- Anonymous, March 18, 2001

Answers

Jesus said we will not be forgiven unless we forgive others. How many black people will not forgive whites for slavery. They want to keep it as a weapon to justify there own hate for whites.

In Christ, Nathan Paujo

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

Email address is paujo2001@yahoo.com not paujo@yahoo.com. Please change it.

In Christ, Nathan Paujo

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

Dear Nathan,

I am African-American and I have no hatred for any race. I especially have no hatred for white people inspite of the crime against humanity that many whites committed against my ancestors in this country. I emphatically disagree with your statement that blacks hate whites. A more accurate statement on your part would be that many blacks hate racial discrimination which some whites are primarily responsible for in this country. I challenge you to find any instance of where black people have historically discriminated against anyone based on race. Finally, many blacks have forgiven whites for slavery. However, America has not even acknowledged that slavery was wrong. The Southern Baptist convention is the only American institution that confessed that slavery was wrong. They did so in 1995 at their convention. I praise God for them taking the high road on this most painful issue, truly they have the Spirit of God. If you want to know more about slavery, I encourage you type in AMERICAN MEMORY in your Yahoo browser and it will take you to the Library of Congress web site which contains a lot of slave narratives which were collected by the WPA in the 1930's.

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

I think one of the hardest acts of forgiveness for me has been around the issue of racism. When I came to Montana nine years ago I came to take a position as a United Methodist campus minister at the University in my town. It was just myself and my daughter who was fifteen at the time. I was the first minister of color in the conference and the hatred and racism that I encountered from United Methodists church leaders. I had only read about in books. Then I had to deal with the KKK and the militia. Jesus calls us to forgive our enemies, and I will admit it was so hard to do. It did not happen over night, but with prayer and love Christ has healed me. Because of forgiveness I am happy, a human rights organization was started that is now an international organization, I will be coming into the AME denomination at Annual Conference. So many blessings that God has given me because I chose to follow the teachings of Christ. I do believe when we forgive those that harm us, we receive the greater blessing. Those that hated me nine years ago continue to hate me, as for me, I have won national awards in the field of human rights because I do not hate them. Christianity is truly a radical and powerful religion, that requires that we examine ourselves and confess our sins so that we can be made whole in Christ. The two AME churches in Billings and Great Falls Montana, have had the KKK and skin heads come into their sanctuaries to intimidate and have had threats to burn the churches down. This happened several years ago. Both churches stood firm in the power of God and did not respond with hate, instead the congregations stood and faced their attackers and called on the holy spirit to disperse them. They also sang gospel songs that sent the KKK and skinheads running out the door. I know in my heart that as Christians we are called to show the love of Christ for ultimately it and only love is our protection.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

Dear Rev. Rogers, What a compelling testimony! I wish that Martha Williamson, the producer of TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL could produce your story. I hope will consider trying to contact her at CBS via e-mail.

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

Rev. Rogers,

Indeed that was so powerful. The scripture came to my mine. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, because you have love one to another.

In Christ, Carmen

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

Hotep,

Interesting statement, Nathan. Why do you feel that Afrikans Americans hate you? Many white people (As Jazzman) stated have not acknowledged the wrongs of slavery nor the damage they have done to the planet. Healing/forgiveness starts when a group admits their mistakes thus eliminating history from repeating itself. You are correct, in order to get forgiveness, one must first forgive. White people should start this process by apologizing to the Afrikans in North, South Americas, and the Caribbean; the indigenous peoples of world, beginning with those on this continent and when they completed that task, it is time to reckon with destruction of the natural resources of this planet. Please approach generalization with caution. All Afrikan people do not think alike.

Very powerful testimony Sis. Denise….

In Love and Light, Brenda

PS. The first ship slave was called “Jesus of Lubeck”. John Hawkins was rewarded for his thievery by commanding the English navy. Which Jesus are you speaking of Nathan?

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

One of our favorite hymns, Amazing Grace, was written by a fomer slave ship captian. Are Blacks Americans? Who is America? Blessings

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001

John Newton was the former slave ship captain. I read from Christian Articles Archives, that after he read a book entitled "Imitation of Christ," this led to his converstion. And although he was promoted afterwards the inhuman aspects of the job commanding a slave ship began to convict him and he left the sea for good. The last 43 years of his his life he preached the Gospel in Lond. A quote from him at age 82, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a sinner and that Christ is a great Savior."

Are blacks Americans. I am an American. Have blacks always been treated as Americans, No. In fact people have died, laws have been changed, constitution has been amended to finally admits Blacks are Americans.

But your question is good, because now that we are Americans, what does that say about us now. We are a displaced people who were forced into becoming Americans. This was not by choice. So as the Statute of Liberty stands tall with her torch welcoming the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to be free, as an African American, I must realized the roots of our existed here, was not out of desparate hope desiring to come to American to be free. But in fact, we forced into American to be enslaved.

But I do thank God, that just as John Newton's heart was convicted and he wrote the beautiful words Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me, God's grace has much more abounded in a many hearts.

Blacks have been enslaved with chains, and have been set free from those chains. We still have a way to go, because some of our minds and emotions are still enslaved. Opportunities, even though it says equal, are still not equal. Laws, who are supposed to be enforced equally, or still bias in their enforcement.

What is America? Have you ever looked at every verse of the song. Today, I saw for the first time the very last verse;

"O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till nobler men keep once again Thy whiter jubilee!

Yes I am an African American, and I pray God's grace upon this country. We desperately need it.

In Christ, Carmen

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001

Rev. Rogers,

I too am very impressed with your story regarding the KKK and their racist and evil acts on those churches.

I do believe that satan will work through whom ever is willing. They were willing vessels, but satan was the source of the evilness. As humans, even they can be forgiven. "If they new better, they would do better."

On the subject of forgiveness and reconciliation, I believe that there should be a national holiday for forgiving just as there is for thanksgiving. Forgivness brings so much peace and freedom to ones life that it should be celebrated and acknowledge by all.

To forgive means to live and not die. If we hold on to unforgiveness, our spirits are restrained and suppressed. To forgive as we have been forgiven is part of the process through which we must all go in order to reach for the mark of the higher calling. If we hold on to unforgiveness, we cannot grow in Christ.

Forgiveness is the praise that we offer to God in exchange for the peace that He imparts upon us. Reconciliation is the Worship between us and God for the resolution of the conflict.

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001

Saundra thank you so much for your eloquent words. In churches around the world the color used during the lenten season and advent season is purple. Purple signifies forgiveness and repentence of our sins, during this advent season I hope we will focus on forgiveness. My purple stole has the greek symbol for the alpha and omega which symbolizes that Christ is the beginning and the end. I think of that as I put my stole on over my robe, for Christ is the beginning for the forgiveness of sins and the end product is reconcilliation.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001