Forgiven to Forgive: Christ's Enabling Example

Browsing through the App Store on my phone I came across some interesting Apps:

• There was an App that helps you start campfires just by rubbing 2 sticks together. It’s called “Matchless.com.”

• The dating App, Tinder, has developed a site just for lumberjacks. They call it, “Timber.”

Then there was a new “App” that might connect to today’s passage. The App is called “IR8 OR8.” Their slogan is “Don’t Accommod8, Don’t Toler8, Just Agit8.” (At this r8, I may hyperventil8 – Editor.)

The App uses Artificial Intelligence to express 8 degrees of anger: Frustration, Resentment, Spite, Scorn, Bitterness, Hostility, Outrage, & Slander. The User can set the dial from 1-8 to ensure that their language in conversations, emails, or social media posts properly syncs up with their current level of loathing. The User creates a personal profile, answering 8,888 questions regarding their feelings on a wide range of issues (e.g. their political position on the Migratory Bird Treaty of 1918, their preferred style of religious worship, does pineapple belong on a pizza or not, their opinion about attending all-day Renaissance Festivals, pies vs. cakes, binge-watching vs. slow-watching TV series, Coke vs. Pepsi, is breakfast cereal a soup or not, their favorite Disciple, or is a hot-dog a sandwich).

The App then diligently utilizes online searches, Siri, & Alexa, & even your phone’s camera to look for instances where people in your home, your office, your community, your city, your state, your nation, & your world disagree with your wise viewpoints so that you can respond/retaliate with a vengeance. The app makes every conflict over something as inconsequential as should the toilet paper go over the top of the roll or under the roll become a verbal death match. The App also helpfully keeps “score” of every infraction or perceived slight that may occur each day to justify your moving the dial ever higher. There’s no guilt or remorse for your retaliation because you are “owed” the opportunity to balance the spreadsheet.

I was tempted to download the App, until I read a few reviews:

–“This App has been so helpful! I’ve really spiced up my social media posts announcing my boycotts of all the companies that I find offensive to my views. On the plus side, I’ve lost 15 pounds, since my diet consists of only homemade sourdough bread & water. On the negative side, I’m a tad nervous every time Johnson County Water District #1 posts anything on social media.”
–“I used to sit in the employee lunchroom listening to all sorts of idiotic comments. I could never respond quickly with the perfect response or put-down. With this App, I can instantly zing each person with the ideal conversation-crushing rebuttal. Now, I enjoy my Swanson’s Salisbury Steak TV Dinner sitting at a table all by myself!”
–“I love this App! It is great to accurately keep score of every errant comment or thoughtless gesture that I might have overlooked or forgotten about because it wasn’t that big a deal or I didn’t even notice. Now I notice every single time when someone ‘attacks’ me by merging in front of me on the highway, not standing to one side on an airport escalator, or taking the last Bear Claw at the doughnut shop when they obviously knew I wanted it. Needless to say, I love checking my scorecard every hour!”

You know, on second thought I think I’ll pass on this App. I think Paul was on to something. In the feedback section on the App’s listing, I’ll suggest they add a new category to their 8 levels–a category that focuses on being kind, forgiving, & compassionate. It could be called “Imit8 Christ,” where, instead of being bitter all the time, we strive to be better. 

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to remove my new banking App, because it keeps asking me if I want to delete my cache.