My baptism texts are Ruth 1:14-19; Luke 12:54-56; Matthew 5:21-26; Luke 12:57-59. Only the Ruth 1:16b and Matthew 5:22-23 were read during the ceremony. I really did have trouble when my preferred text to be read -- Luke 12:56-57 (already an excentric choice) -- was refused/discouraged. Sorry about bugging the American Church.
At the baptism, I said something strange to the senior pastor. I stated I think the following.
"Forgive is the name of what is forgotten from one to another. Forget is the name of what is forgiven from one to another." or maybe
"What I give is called forget. What I get is called forgive." or maybe
"The thing I receive is called forgive because it is prepared to be given to me. The thing I give is called forget because I prepare it to be got by the receiving person." or maybe
"Anything given is called forget because of the attention we pay for the gift to be received by the other. Anything received is called forgive because we recognize the attention the other places such that the gift be given."
I do not remember what the actual words were and don't know if I wrote them at the time of the baptism. The seed of the idea was planted years prior in discussing the nature of forgiveness in different languages which always had the notion of acceptance, but also the notion of giving. My declaration was the expression of giving and receiving baptism. One key point was that the words were a little inversed in the meanings. "I get forgive and I give forget."
Ruth 1:14-19 NSRV
14 Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15 So she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said,
“Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!”
18 When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”
Luke 12:54-56 NSRV
Interpreting the Time
54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain’; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
Matthew 5:21-26 NSRV
Concerning Anger
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Luke 12:57-59 NSRV
Settling with Your Opponent
57 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 Thus, when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the case, or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”
SOURCE en.md - DONT NOT EDIT - NE PAS EDITER