Posted on 07/20/2015 9:52:09 AM PDT by DWW1990
One of the most unpopular and difficult virtues of Christianity is forgiveness. As C.S. Lewis put it, “Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” Sadly, our personal lives recently have been an exercise in forgiving the unforgivable.
(Excerpt) Read more at trevorgrantthomas.com ...
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’m reminded of Acts 23:3, before Paul realized he was addressing the new high priest. Also Jesus himself, declaring woe to many people.
Amen Jim!
Forgiveness is for our benefit.
I’ve often wondered about that. God doesn’t forgive us until we admit and agree with Him that we’ve sinned, we humble ourselves, confess, repent, and attempt to turn from that sin.
In most cases, it would not be hard for us to forgive another person if that person came to us, confessed, humbled themselves, and asked forgiveness. But all too often that does not happen. Heinous crimes are committed, and the offender sits in the courtroom all smirking and defiant. Must the victims still forgive him?
If Christians are required to forgive offenders who are not sorry and never ask forgiveness, (and most Christians would say they are,) then are humans held to a higher standard than God?
Then I think of cases like the Chattanooga victims’ families, and Amish people who forgive their children’s murderers. God must enable them to do it, I guess.
There are some Christians who believe that forgiveness goes hand-in-hand with repentance. And certainly, the unrepentant sinner will not inherit the kingdom of God. However, there is a difference in forgiveness between humans and eternal forgiveness between man and God.
You’re exactly right, as Mr. Thomas points out at the end of his piece.
...”cases like the Chattanooga victims’ families, and Amish people who forgive their children’s murderers. God must enable them to do it”....
And that goes equally for all forgiveness we give others....for in us is no good thing ....apart from him our righteousness is as filthy rags....so imagine what our sin looks like!
God Only is good....He moves us to act accordingly..
Also...Forgiveness does not mean there will be no repercussions or consequences. God is also a God of Justice... even when men fail to carry that out as he requires.
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.
In what we can forgive, yes, but I don't see the difference concerning when we should forgive.
Where does Christ tell us to forgive those who have done wrong, continue to do wrong, and are totally unrepentant in doing wrong.
Followed to its logical end, this would mean that having a prison system is unethical.
There is a difference between forgiveness and actually including them in one's life. Too many people conflate the two.
In most cases, it would not be hard for us to forgive another person if that person came to us, confessed, humbled themselves, and asked forgiveness. But all too often that does not happen. Heinous crimes are committed, and the offender sits in the courtroom all smirking and defiant. Must the victims still forgive him?It makes living and loving a whole lot easier, if one forgives the perpetrator (not always a heinous crime is involved; just your basic pain from this or that being said that is hurtful) so one can move on. Without doing so, there is a blockade (of anger) one must deal with each and every day. "Let go and let God" is a familiar quote I've heard from time to time. As soon as you lift your head to Jesus, and say, "I forgive so-and-so for ....." a certain peace can immediately come forth, and if not right away, in short time...
The Cross was Judgment.
Now that all sin has been judged, upon turning back to God and confessing all known ans unknown sins to Him, He is free to forgive us those sins.
Yes...
Before the cross: “…and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…”
But even better...
After the cross: “...even as Christ forgave you, so forgive others” (Col 3:13).
I don’t forgive to be forgiven, I forgive BECAUSE I’ve been forgiven. :)
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.
That people forgive without the transgressor repenting for their wrong does not mean much to me.
Is it forgiveness or just misguided apathy? I say the latter.
Again, I get that a Christian should not allow themselves to be consumed with a grudge, but I see absolutely no theological basis for Christians forgiving an unrepentant transgressor.
True forgiveness does indeed mean a lack of consequences, otherwise its rather meaningless forgiveness. If someone steals my car and I forgive them the moment they do it, why would I call the police? That makes no sense.
And going to my point, Christ does not forgive me if I'm unrepentant, right? So if I expect a person to be sorry that they raped my daughter, before I forgive them, that seems in keeping with Christ's teaching.
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