Dr Everett Worthington is a leading psychologist. He is based in the USA in Virginia, and recognises the link between forgiveness and mental health. He is a committed Christian and gives lectures around the world on the Biblical principles of forgiveness, and how holding on to unforgiveness can lead to a bitter life. He draws this knowledge from his own experiences, as his mother was murdered 22 years ago.

“On New Year’s Day in 1996, I woke up to the aftermath of my mother’s murder. For years I had dedicated my professional life to researching forgiveness. As a clinician I had counselled many couples to forgive, and had written several books about the psychological and spiritual dimensions of forgiving. Yet my faith and my identity were tested severely. Thinking no one was home on New Year’s Eve, two teenagers broke into my mother’s home seeking treasure. My mother did not drive (hence no car in the driveway) and had gone to bed early (hence no lights). She awoke and confronted one of the youth, and he bashed her repeatedly with a crowbar.”

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The division between the two groups: cessationists (those who believe that the supernatural gifts have ceased) and the continuationists (who believe that they still exist), probably will not end until Christ returns. Additionally, cessationists tend to be leery of emotionalism and continuationists tend to be the polar opposite, but is there common ground? Yes, we should all be desperate for more of God.
Never interpret Scripture in the light of your experiences, but rather, interpret your experiences in the penetrating light of Scripture. When experience lines up with Scripture, the emotions that follow can be good and God-given. Emotions can be a mark of the Spirit as reflected in the life of Griffith Jones, who preached during the Welsh revivals of the 18th century: “The tears [of the congregation] began to flow in streams down their cheeks. Soon, they wept openly, and cried out, ‘What shall we do to be saved’?”

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Possible causes of fear in relation to witnessing include shyness, past or perceived rejection or humiliation, an inability to articulate our personal testimony, a lack of knowledge of Scripture, a failure to trust in the Lord, and an ignorance of why men reject the Gospel. Determining the actual cause of fear may be difficult, and understanding the reason may not dispel our fear. But we are commanded to be bold for Jesus (Ephesians 6:19), so we may simply have to persevere, one step at a time. In the meantime, we can apply some basic principles and sharpen our skills, since fear can be overcome by preparation (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

If we are not walking with Christ, we will not be able to witness for Christ effectively, so we certainly need to be living a consistent, Christian life. “Let your light shine before men” – Matthew 5:16. If at all possible, we should be attending a Bible-teaching church. Also, we can always improve our knowledge of Scripture, and we should study well the book of John.

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Hot cross buns are now for sale everywhere, and everyone, whether they are Christian or not, relish these sweet spiced pastries that Christians traditionally celebrate Easter with. However, with stacked shelves of chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs in abundance, Easter is going the same way as Christmas, our other great Christian festival that is being stripped of its Christian significance in our secular-humanistic society. Few people still know what the Christian symbolism and origin of hot cross buns is.

The bread represents the Communion, the cross on the bun symbolises the crucifixion of Jesus, and the fragrant spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves – represent the spices with which Jesus was embalmed in the tomb. The raisins in the dough are symbolic of Christ’s body in the grave and the risen dough symbolises His resurrection from the dead.
This symbolism offers us the ideal conversation starters to talk about the Gospel with our children, family, friends, or even strangers in the supermarket.

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