Forgiveness is easier when you know that God becasue of Jesus Christ has forgiven you completely and totally and isn’t mad at you but is madly in love with you.
Know that makes it easier to let stuff go.
OK, I’ve got an issue with what I consider to be a current misinterpretation of Christian instruction regarding forgiveness.
The new ideal I hear all the time centers on “Forgive, regardless of whether the offender is sorry.”
Although I’ll concede that it isn’t good to hold a grudge, for one’s own sake, I fail to see anything in Christian teaching that suggests forgiveness should come before reconciliation.
Does God forgive unrepentant sinner? No.
So being able to forgive is one thing, but forgiving an unrepentant person is another.
Forgiveness does not mean the wrongdoer escapes punishment. I’ve encountered Christians who have in their lives pedophiles because they’ve forgiven them only for that pedophile to prey on their child!
I don`t want to sound like a broken record but forgiveness is one of the works that shows the faith that we claim to have.
Hate to mention that dirty word works which has nothing to do with religious rituals which has given works a bad name.
James 2
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Mathew 7
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
All any one has to do is read the rest of the chapter and can understand what Jesus was saying just like James did.
Note that it is God who forgives the sins.
The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: The Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:
God, the Father of mercies, through the death and the resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
OK, I know I’m really going to stir the pot on this one, but I think the whole “forgive the transgressor in-spite of their being totally unrepentant for the act” is a form of self-glorification and not in a good way.
Essentially, look at me, I am so devout, such a wonderful Christian, that I forgive everything even when no one wants it.
To me it is not a good example. What do you then tell non-Christians? Do you say I’m so good that you don’t even have to repent to get my forgiveness, but Jesus and God aren’t as good as me, they are actually looking for you to repent. Or do you tell them that God forgives everyone for everything unconditionally, and therefore there really is no Hell?
My wife and I were having a talk about this and she pointed out that we would be much more likely to forgive someone of a past transgression if we just heard they were diagnosed with cancer.
Then the conversation went to: why? The transgression hadn’t changed. The lack of repentance hadn’t changed.
I supposed it would just be compassion for their plight.
Still noodling that one over -