Forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
I don’t say debts and I don’t say sins. No matter how Protestant of a group I’m in, I say trespasses and I probably will keep on saying trespasses when I am an ordained Protestant minister.
Why does it matter? To trespass is something so much more powerful than to sin or to be in debt. If you have sinned, you’ve done something wrong. If have a debt, you owe someone something. If you have trespassed, you have been wandering around in places you do not belong. You’re traipsing, searching, stomping. Whatever you’re doing, you weren’t invited. You are where you do not belong.
You’re lounging underneath the forbidden tree waiting ignorantly for another piece of forbidden fruit. Your gaze is fixed on the wrong .com. Or your heart is fixed on absolutely nothing but yourself. You live on the couch or under your covers or in the closet or in the bar.
You’re backseat driving someone else’s life. You help them blur the sacred and profane. You violate their spaces, their senses and their self-esteem.
You have gone where you do not belong. You have trespassed. Against God. Against others. Against yourself.
Turning around and climbing back over the barbed wire fence or quietly sneaking out the back door will not help. When you go where you do not belong, damage is done even if you don’t see it yet. Property gets destroyed and trust gets violated. You can’t just say I’m sorry or try to pay it back.
See? I can apologize and I can pay back anything I owe. But when I have trespassed, it’s just too complex. There’s no way I’m getting out of it and no way everything can be made whole and right outside the help of Christ.
Forgive me my trespasses.
Something to Sustain Me 
Jen, thank you for this. I love how you’ve explained this. I might want to use it sometime … can I, if I give you credit?
Keep writing. I love this.
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Thanks…Ive had a lot to think about.
Iceland…that was just a passing dream. Cheap tickets, bored mind. A different part of Europe will probably work better. Just need to get the rest of my summer figured out first.
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what about London? any cheap tix to come here??? we have a sofabed with your name on it …
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To support Kathy’s plea – come here!!!!
And I loved this post too. I also like the trespasses language as it reminds me of my rights based work. One of the things about rights versus needs, is that you don’t get to make excuses about not fulfilling people’s needs, or pretending that they are not -really- needs. Rights means people are owed respect. Trespasses means you’ve somehow realised that you owe that apology to someone and there is no explaining it away – sneaking as you put it.
Enjoying your blogging Jen.
xx
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I’m trying ladies!! Likely mid-late August. Although….London is not nearly as exotic as Iceland. Now that my summer plans are nailed down internship-wise, I can start really, truly looking.
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Wow, I’ve come back a couple of times to read this. Wonderfully written, this blog speaks to me. The language paints a picture so clearly. I wandered by, not even sure how I got here, but I will check back to see if you’ve taken these thoughts further. Write on!
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Excellent! I totally agree with you.
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I want to agree, but I think you’re just too deep for me. I never really thought of “trespasses” that specifically before.
Definitely a great blog though. I have something to reflect on. Thank you & God bless!
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[…] Prayer, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” JustJen, a Protestant seminarian/minister writes: … To trespass is something so much more powerful […]
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Thanks for the clarification on my blog. Now I get it. I tend to overthink some things. I definitely like your approach.
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