LadyEmeraude
l love Buttercup flowers~
I'll just be reading any replies if there are any. Probably not commenting though.
How do you yourself view forgiveness in light of your religious or spiritual beliefs?
- Thread starter LadyEmeraude
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Who_so_ever
Saved By Grace
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- Grateful American
I'm not clear on the question. How do I feel about forgiveness in general? Do I forgive others because of my faith? Could you please clarify some?
LadyEmeraude
l love Buttercup flowers~
typing from my phone, laptop is having issues.
Sorry, yes, I could have make the topic question clearer.
Basically, I am wanting to say: Do you forgive because of your faith, yes that
is what I wanted to express. And do you forgive differently because of your faith
then you might if you did not have your own personal faith.
Actually, this topic can go any direction you each might chose, or anything at all
you would want to share; it can be open ended..
Nathan
SF VIP
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- High Desert- Calif.
Forgiveness, and asking for God's forgiveness is a major part of Jesus' teaching.
Yes, I agree with Nathan that it's crucial for those of us who try to be Christians. In fact, I feel that if I don't forgive others I won't be forgiven.
However, that's in regard to people who have done something to hurt me. I do have questions in my mind about forgiving someone who has hurt someone else. Is it my place?
Example: A man in our community, a well to do man who held trusted positions, molested and abused some teenage boys who worked for him.
After it all came to light, just before he was sent to prison, he stood up in his church and asked forgiveness and they forgave him.
I sort of felt that forgiveness was up to the boys and their parents.
Thoughts?
Who_so_ever
Saved By Grace
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- Grateful American
I forgave before I became a Christian, although it was different. I tended to only forgive those who apologized and seemed to mean it. I was the queen of grudge holding unfortunately.
Now, I forgive more quickly, even if they don't apologize or seem sincere. God told us to forgive others..... not if we think they deserve it. A big eye-opener to me, that keeps me forgiving others is simple, but more amazing than I can wrap my mind around. Christ forgave those who beat Him, who crucified Him. If He can forgive those, how dare I not forgive much lesser offenses against me??
Who_so_ever
Saved By Grace
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- Grateful American
Yes, that's biblical. God said it.
If you have anger in your heart towards that person (as any sane person would) it seems to me that we would have to forgive the person. The actions were not done to you, but the feelings those actions created within are certainly affecting you and your walk. This goes for me as well, just using "you" in the general sense.
Nathan
SF VIP
- Location
- High Desert- Calif.
That is a big challenge, and I think that God understands the difficulty in granting that type of forgiveness. One thing that many people overlook is that forgiveness is for the benefit of the 'forgiver', letting go of the hurt or other transgression inflicted upon them by others.
It's always a "plus" to receive a sincere apology, but for those that expect an apology...they may be in for a long wait.
MACKTEXAS
Senior Member
All of the following [between the two lines] was authored by someone else; not me. It actually is a combination of thoughts from two authors, which I happen to agree with.
______________________________________________________________
Modern psychology has wrongly taught that “forgiveness” is one-sided, that reconciliation is unnecessary, and that the purpose of this unilateral forgiveness is to free the offended person of feelings of bitterness.
While we must not harbor bitterness in our hearts (Hebrews 12:15) or repay evil for evil (1 Peter 3:9), we should make sure we follow God’s lead and not extend forgiveness to the unrepentant. In short, we should withhold forgiveness from those who do not confess and repent; at the same time, we should extend the offer of forgiveness and maintain an attitude of readiness to forgive.
When someone sins against us, can we unconditionally "remember it no more?" Jesus warned His disciples to “take heed to yourselves” in regard to forgiveness. He wanted us to “take heed” to two things. First, if our brother sins, we must go and rebuke him. We can’t just forget it. Second, only after he repents can we forgive.
This is what the Bible says, Luke17:3-4: "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."
The Bible model of forgiveness is conditional on repentance; otherwise unrepentant sinners would be saved and go to heaven. Jesus didn't forgive both thieves on the cross.
_____________________________________________________________
This final comment is my own:
If you seek to forgive someone in order to relieve yourself of the pain they may have caused you or someone else, that is another issue, better known as forbearance, of which much more is said here.
______________________________________________________________
Modern psychology has wrongly taught that “forgiveness” is one-sided, that reconciliation is unnecessary, and that the purpose of this unilateral forgiveness is to free the offended person of feelings of bitterness.
While we must not harbor bitterness in our hearts (Hebrews 12:15) or repay evil for evil (1 Peter 3:9), we should make sure we follow God’s lead and not extend forgiveness to the unrepentant. In short, we should withhold forgiveness from those who do not confess and repent; at the same time, we should extend the offer of forgiveness and maintain an attitude of readiness to forgive.
When someone sins against us, can we unconditionally "remember it no more?" Jesus warned His disciples to “take heed to yourselves” in regard to forgiveness. He wanted us to “take heed” to two things. First, if our brother sins, we must go and rebuke him. We can’t just forget it. Second, only after he repents can we forgive.
This is what the Bible says, Luke17:3-4: "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."
The Bible model of forgiveness is conditional on repentance; otherwise unrepentant sinners would be saved and go to heaven. Jesus didn't forgive both thieves on the cross.
_____________________________________________________________
This final comment is my own:
If you seek to forgive someone in order to relieve yourself of the pain they may have caused you or someone else, that is another issue, better known as forbearance, of which much more is said here.
I no longer follow a faith however I forgive the faith I followed for the fears they instilled in me regarding God. It’s easy to forgive – forgive means to stop blaming or being angry with someone for something that person has done. Does that mean you will be besties with the person who did wrong to you? Probably not. It’s easy to move on but a lot harder to forget as that was perhaps a lesson meant to be learned by you.
Who_so_ever
Saved By Grace
- Location
- Grateful American
but remember, Christ on the cross said, Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do..... They hadn't repented or asked forgiveness.
This tripped me up a lot when I first got saved. Much of what Christ is teaching is to do with our brothers, our brethren. The same rules don't apply to the unsaved.
Again with the brother.....
...... the thief didn't repent - in so many words. What he did do was the one & only way we can get to heaven; he acknowledged that Christ was the Son of God and asked Him to remember him in heaven.
MACKTEXAS
Senior Member
Yes, I do remember what Christ said on the cross, and that was His prayer because it is Christ's will that all repent*, but God only forgives those who indeed do repent.
*2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
I have no further comment since my previous post expressed my belief. I recognize that forums are for expressing a multiplicity of interpretations, whether or not we all reach the same conclusions.
fuzzybuddy
SF VIP
- Location
- The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I'm am atheist, so religion doesn't enter into it. I'm not exactly the 'forgiving type'. I don't think people are built all the same, regardless of religion. Both my exes said they immediately would be out the door if they ever cheated on me. I don't see why I should forgive you, if you're a SOB. I can live with a lot of bad behavior, but once someone crossed the line, well they've crossed the line, good bye.
Who_so_ever
Saved By Grace
- Location
- Grateful American
Thank you for the responses. I definitely wasn't trying to disagree or cause offense. On the contrary, I was somewhat elated to have a civilized conversation about faith here.
RedAlert76
Member
- Location
- Ashland Ks
forgiveness does not mean acceptance - least that was what I was taught
Who_so_ever
Saved By Grace
- Location
- Grateful American
Mack said he wasn't responding further, so this is for anyone.....
God, Christ, the Holy Spirit are all the godhead. So, if Jesus asks God to forgive someone, knowing God as He does, He cannot be asking "amiss"..... wouldn't God then forgive?
Trish
VIP OAP
Sometimes, I forgive because I understand, although not necessarily condone, the actions of someone who has offended me. Other times, I forgive because, even though they were wrong, they are also regretful. More often though, I forgive because I want to draw a line, let go of negative feelings and move on. So, I think, forgiveness is not necessarily about the other person, sometimes it is about freeing ourselves.
I've struggled with the concept of forgiveness a lot. I note with some dismay the line in the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who have trespassed against us," clearly implying that we will be forgiven only to the extent that we have forgiven others. And I have a lot to be forgiven for when I face God some day.
I have also read, in a religious context, that we are not obligated to forgive if the offender has not asked for forgiveness. It's a puzzle to me.
I am still angry with my husband for walking out on three kids (and me, but especially the innocent kids) and for my sister for talking him into doing that. That said, I don't dwell on it on a daily basis, and—this is an extreme example—if Jesus were to, say, come down on a cloud and say "I will doom their souls to hell for all eternity if that is what you desire"—I'd say no. So I'm not even sure if I have forgiven them. I don't think I have. I try not to think about it because dwelling on the hurt accomplishes nothing except the perpetuation of more pain.
Just my 2 cents.
I have also read, in a religious context, that we are not obligated to forgive if the offender has not asked for forgiveness. It's a puzzle to me.
I am still angry with my husband for walking out on three kids (and me, but especially the innocent kids) and for my sister for talking him into doing that. That said, I don't dwell on it on a daily basis, and—this is an extreme example—if Jesus were to, say, come down on a cloud and say "I will doom their souls to hell for all eternity if that is what you desire"—I'd say no. So I'm not even sure if I have forgiven them. I don't think I have. I try not to think about it because dwelling on the hurt accomplishes nothing except the perpetuation of more pain.
Just my 2 cents.
Who_so_ever
Saved By Grace
- Location
- Grateful American
I think we all do.
If it is not in the Bible from God Himself, I tend to not believe. Even the high priests back in the day proclaimed things that were directly against what God said. I don't believe this is in the Bible, but now you all have given me something to study.
I'm so sorry for what they put all of you through. ((HUG))
Michael Z
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern Wisconsin
According to what I have read in the Gospel of Matthew, we are to "turn the other cheek". In other words forgive, as we have been forgiven.
Sometimes this can be difficult, and we might even have to put a little "safe" distance between ourselves and the offender, particularly if it is a family member. Sometimes a nice card with a note and gift card in absence of immediate contact can go a long way.
Sometimes this can be difficult, and we might even have to put a little "safe" distance between ourselves and the offender, particularly if it is a family member. Sometimes a nice card with a note and gift card in absence of immediate contact can go a long way.
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Thanks for the kind reply, @Who_so_ever!
I'm looking back at my post and must clarify a couple of things. First, I should have typed that I read about not having to forgive someone who has not asked for forgiveness in a secular context, not a religious one. Sorry about that!
Also, with respect to not condemning my sister and my ex husband to hell if given the choice, I should have followed that up with "Maybe I have forgiven them," not "I don't think I have forgiven them."
My brain is a little slow waking up today.
I'm looking back at my post and must clarify a couple of things. First, I should have typed that I read about not having to forgive someone who has not asked for forgiveness in a secular context, not a religious one. Sorry about that!
Also, with respect to not condemning my sister and my ex husband to hell if given the choice, I should have followed that up with "Maybe I have forgiven them," not "I don't think I have forgiven them."
My brain is a little slow waking up today.
Who_so_ever
Saved By Grace
- Location
- Grateful American
No worries! My brain is foggy today, so I get it. lol
Aunt Bea
SF VIP
- Location
- Near Mount Pilot
I forgive but I never forget, once my faith or trust in a person is gone it’s gone for good.
PeppermintPatty
🐢. 🐳. 🐢
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- Canada
To me , forgiveness is for the forgiver. We forgive so we aren’t hanging into bitterness in our hearts. We let go of that anger and bitterness so it doesn’t tarnish our soul. Some things are harder to forgive than others. I go through phases of forgiving my parents for the hell they put me through and when I’m in a good place, it’s easy. When I slide back into ‘feeling sorry for myself,’ it’s much harder. That’s when I know I have work to do.
OregonGuy
Senior Member
Like the late Pope Francis said regarding homosexuality, "who am I to judge?" Us mortals are not able to know if someone's statement of repentance is sincere. So, in the case cited of the child molester asking fellow church members to accept his statement of repentance ... its a good step toward rehabilitation (if in fact child molesters can overcome their sexual addiction) but fellow church members can only pray for God's mercy.