For years former Beatle Paul McCartney has held a grudge against the John Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono. In fact he was bitter. The reasons were many. In a new interview with Rolling Stone magazine, he indicated the walls separating them have now been torn down. He said the key to their reconciliation was “time, the great healer. I thought, ‘If John loved her, there’s got to be something. He’s not stupid.'”

But there is one person McCartney said he could never forgive. Mark David Chapman – Lennon’s murderer. “Whether it was evil or just deranged — it was unforgivable,” McCartney said. “I think I could pretty much forgive anyone else. But I don’t see why I’d want to forgive him.”

Most of us understand his hesitancy. Most of us also persons we struggle to forgive. Broken relationships are common, even among Christians…even at church…even in Sunday School classes.

Sometimes we ask, “Why should I forgive them?” The answer, “Because Jesus forgave you.” I know that sounds simplistic. But think about it. If Jesus forgave you and if He is willing to forgive the person you are unwilling to forgive, who are you to not forgive them? Who am I not to forgive another person?

Churches and families are destroyed by Christians not acting like Christians – by that I mean Christians who are not willing to forgive. I’m not saying it is easy. But I am saying it is right.

Always remember that the person you don’t like is someone Jesus loves. If they are a believer, even a struggling one, they are still your brother or sister. Also remember that if you are struggling to forgive someone, the other person is not the only struggling spiritually. So are you!

Pastor Steve Hogg