Skip to main content

UNFORGIVEN


“Unforgiven” is a 1992 Western, produced and directed by Clint Eastwood. The film also stars Eastwood in the lead role, along with Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris. It won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film explores how the desire for vengeance unveils the real ugly side of violence. “Unforgiven” was set in motion by a burning desire by a group of prostitutes led by Strawberry Alice (Frances Fisher) from Big Whiskey, Wyoming, to perpetrate vengeance on two cowboys who disfigured one of their own. The Kid (Jaimz Woolvett), William Munny (Clint Eastwood), and Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) answered the call, though with some sense of reluctance. But for the price of $1,000, the heat and the hit was on. And for one sincere question asked and for one shocking story told. Years before Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven" (circa 33 AD), a master storyteller told the story of "The Unforgiving Servant". This time there were no cameras, no director, and no producer, but a storyteller and a heavenly message. It was a story told to impart a spirit and teach a virtue. The question, “Lord, how often do I have to forgive a believer who wrongs me? Seven times?” motivated the “Parable of the Unforgiving Servant” [Matthew 18: 21 – 35]. Peter’s question seeks affirmation of a principle that made performing a seemingly righteous act seven times (more so forgiving a person) the highest good. At the center of Jesus' parable is the life principle that whenever there is a time that we cannot think of any reason, or grounds to forgive a brother or a sister of their sin against us we should always think of how God forgave us of our own sins against him in Jesus Christ [Isaiah 43: 25; Jeremiah 31: 31 – 34]. The response to Peter’s question implies that forgiveness has neither boundaries nor limits. One of the grounds for forgiving our brothers and sisters for their sins against us is on the grounds of the principle of conditional forgiveness of sin by God. The principle of conditional forgiveness of sin states that God will not forgive us of our own sins against him if we do not forgive our brothers and sisters for their sins against us. It is a principle that is clearly stated in Jesus’ words: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive men not their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” [Matthew 6: 14, 15; Mark 11: 25, 26]. The risk of our prayer not being answered by God on the basis of self – determination is far too much of a risk to be taken by anyone [Mark 11: 25]. Forgiveness is both a spirit and a virtue. It is the first step towards healing and reconciliation in the peace process. Forgiveness is seeing the price paid by Jesus for our sins against God rather than seeking the price to be paid by someone else for their sin against us. Forgiveness involves moving from the state of confusion where we currently are, to the state of peace where God wants us to be. In the case that you have never seen Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven” and you are just wondering about the ending. This is how it goes. The prostitutes did get their revenge as Quick Mike and “Davey Boy” Bunting was both killed. Mission accomplished? Not really. Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) was captured and tortured to death by Sheriff Little Bill Daggett’s (Gene Hackman) men. On the same night, Logan's corpse is displayed in a coffin outside the saloon. Inside, Little Bill has assembled a posse to pursue Munny (Clint Eastwood) and the Kid. Munny walks in and promptly kills Skinny Dubois (Anthony James), the saloon owner and pimp of the prostitutes, for "decorating" his saloon with Logan's corpse. Munny then tries to kill Little Bill, but his shotgun misfires. A violent gunfight ensues, leaving Bill wounded and most of his deputies dead. Munny orders everyone out and then stops Bill from reaching for his pistol. Bill curses Munny -- "I'll see you in hell, William Munny" -- before the latter finishes him with a final gunshot. And that is the rest of the story. I pray that you discover life the way God intends. Richard Wise James

Comments

Michael Dublin said…
George, well done. The consequences of not forgiving are often far greater than the original offense. However, learning what constitutes forgiveness is what most seem not to understand and are often reluctant to forgive due to that lack of understanding. The story of Joseph is the classic example of the stages of forgiveness while the cross is the ultimate example.
February 10, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Olubodun George said…
So true brother Dublin. It is like we are looking for the price to be paid for others for their sin against us and we have forgotten about the price paid by Jesus Christ for our sin against God. I feel blessed to be one of the benefactors of your inspired teachings. Truly South Central church of Christ is the place to be and not Green Acres.
February 29, 2012 at 9:49 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE PREACHER'S WIFE

In " The Preacher's Wife " (1996), Whitney Houston gave a stellar performance in one of her most unforgettable movie roles since "The Bodyguard" (1992). Ms. Houston plays the role of Julia Biggs, a Baptist preacher’s wife in one of the best romantic fantasies of that decade. Most people that have seen " The Preacher's Wife " probably saw nothing beyond the simplistic story of a struggling New York Baptist preacher who is devoted to serving his flock and his community. But to the very discerning, "The Preacher's Wife" looks more like the story of a very beautiful woman neglected by a very pious husband committed to work and other people rather than devoted to a wife and a family. And that makes " The Preacher's Wife " the untold story of many women in every tongue, in every nation, in every language, in every culture, and in every nation. And there is one in every family. Women crave attention and they respond...
1 comment
Read more

HILLTOP MANSION

What is a chateausque-styled mansion built between 1889 and 1895, nestled on 175,000 square feet, 8,000 acres estate in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, and featuring 250 rooms and considered the largest privately - home in the United States? It is none other than George Washington Vanderbilt's home, the Biltmore. The Biltmore Estate is worth unimaginably between $1.2 and $1.35 billion dollars. This includes the value of the mansion, which is worth between $200 and $350 million dollars, and the 125,000 acres of land that comprise the rest of the estate, which are worth around $1 billion dollars. The current global economic crisis is one that has provided common people with a glimpse into the world of finance and economics, especially with the fact that the value of homes and properties is somehow tied into the dynamics of the economy of a nation. One lesson that many of us have learned from the current economic crisis is that somehow the value of real estat...
1 comment
Read more

THE MIRROR OF TRUE TRANSFORMATION

      We are used to looking at life l as if we are looking in the mirror. What we often see in the mirror is not reality but rather a reflection of it. The mirror does not reflect the true self, but only reflects what it sees. And when you do not like what you see then you begin to distort your reflected self. Then the reflection gradually becomes a distortion of your true self.         The above phenomenon is known as self-delusion. Self-delusion does not bring true transformation. It actually takes you farther away from it. It is hard to achieve true transformation if you are living in the state of self-delusion.         It should become clearer why the makeup and cosmetic surgery industry is a multi billion dollar industry and still climbing.  You do not have to look at it too hard to notice that many of our popularized celebrity cosmetic transformations still have situations in their lives that leave them untransformed....
Post a Comment
Read more