INSTITUTIONAL FORGIVENESS

We all require rest from the toils and frustrations of life. Only in rest is life sustainable for generations. Last week, I wrote about the need for pace and rest to make ourselves sustainable. I closed by looking at the old Jewish concept of Sabbath as a means to gauge our pace and sustainability. Sabbath is one of the most misunderstood concepts. Usually when I mention it, someone raises their hand to ask which day of the week I’m referring to. The question asker wants the discussion to turn into an argument about whether we should go to church on Saturday or Sunday. The next question asker will show his workaholic addiction by misusing grace to argue for more activity. I’m convinced the arguments have missed the point.

When the nation of Israel returned to their promise land following their dispersion in Babylon, they asked the why question to God. What had gone wrong? How could they prevent another tragic dispersion? Their best minds concluded it was not just the vilest of sins, but their forgotten institutionalized rests (Nehemiah 13:15-22). Thousands of years later we still don’t get it. In the global village that we live in, we all carry refugee status. No place is truly home and we are bombarded by many competing voices for our time. Our mobile phone continues to ring, our inbox is full. Education and the media have exposed us to so many competing thoughts that we no longer can easily identify what is truly our own.

In order to rest, we must both forgive and be forgiven. Forgiveness troubles us all. I doubt any of us ever get our minds around all that it encompasses. It goes much beyond just the idea of an individual forgiving another individual for the wrong done to him. Our institutions and communities are not sustainable unless they too are noted for their grace and forgiveness.

But institutions tend to be about policies. In fact, most young idealists reach their first adult frustration when they come to realize that the institution they serve cares more about protecting its own interest than they do about their own people. Much of policy formation is protectionism driven by the fear of losing control and predictability. Policies bring us to the point of realizing our own limitations. Get the right form, right stamp, right signature; and then collect the right result. What happens? Usually you can not get them all. By the time you do the system has changed. A mentor of mine once said, “You can love the company, but it will never love you back.”

Three thousand five hundred years ago, a radical young lawyer named Moses crafted unique idea – institutionalized forgiveness. Life was unpredictable. Even the best planner and budget keeper could not predict every misfortune. Insurance could never cover all the possibilities. Justice by law required perfect judges. (Does anyone know one?) No one’s physical strength or economic might could beat every foe. The economic social safety net of the day was selling family property and finally one’s self into slavery. Our radical young lawyer’s solution was to limit the length of slavery. Every 7 years all the slaves were freed. (Exodus 21:2). His solution for lost family property was to return all the property every 50 years. (The Year of Jubilee - Leviticus 25:10). At least once in everyone’s life time the playing field was levelled. It’s a shame a new brand of radical lawyers have not risen in our generation. Institutional forgiveness was the only answer to put everyone on even footing.

The strong resist institutional forgiveness. The argument usually becomes one of justifying the status quo without an honest dialogue about history. For whatever reason, some just are in the right place at the right time. However, the Strong’s song quickly changes when the tables are turned.

Ten years ago, our family needed institutional forgiveness. The strength of my youth hit its first failure with a herniated disc on my spine. I found relief from the pain through surgery. However, our health insurance provider refused to pay for the surgery and we found ourselves with $10,000 of bills beyond our resources. Since our health insurance provider specialized in overseas insurance we found that it had no government regulatory agency. We were stuck. Fortunately, our lawyer helped recover our premiums, and the suggestion to negotiate. Our premiums covered half the cost, we offered our doctor and hospital half their charge; and they institutionally forgave us. Both my current physical and financial health is the result of institutional forgiveness.

Though slavery is not practiced in most of the world today, its descendant of debt does. Those in a position of strength set the rules. Those with no other realistic options take the only option before them, and hope for the best. Many times thoughtful loan schemes bring both development and self-respect. However, there are other times when the load becomes crushing. Developing nations following a previous corrupt regime pay a heavy toll. Digging out of a hole takes more resources than forward momentum. Institutional forgiveness is the only solution. If we borrow Moses’ language the time has arisen for a New Year of Jubilee in which the debt is forgiven so the next generation can start on even footing in a global village.

The Jubilee changes everything. New opportunities begin. Those who are forgiven much become forgiveness new advocates. From their previous position they have learned the discipline of empathy. Enslavement of the misfortunate will not be their choice. Institutional forgiveness makes life sustainable for generations.

Run with me to a place of rest.