1. Suffering from the consequences of your own sin.
2. Suffering from the consequences of the sins of others.
This is a vitally important distinction which we need to keep clear, because these two must be approached in different ways.
Correct response to own sin: repent and accept God's forgiveness. There is no other solution. Just suck it up and do it.
Correct response to the sins of others: this is really complicated, but I can break down into two parts:
a) Forgiveness
b) Distrust
People get really messed up when they fail to see these two parts for what they are. If anyone tells you that to forgive implies that you trust, then he is dangerously wrong. Forgiveness looks to the past; trust looks to the future.
Forgiveness: accept consequences of past wrongs done to you, foregoing the quest for vengeance.
Distrust: be wary of future wrongs that may be done to you.
See the distinction?
Why forgive? Because failure to forgive usurps God's sovereign right of vengeance. God's vengeance is justice, because His judgment is infallible. Man's judgment is not infallible, consequently man's vengeance often compounds injustice.
Why distrust? Because trusting a mortal is idolatry. "Cursed is he who trust in man" says Jeremiah 17. The New Testament warns against false brethren, the goats among the sheep, the blind guides.
Trust God alone. That is the first Commandment.
The less you trust now, the less you will have to forgive later. Forgiveness is hard. Don't increase the burden needlessly.
When Jesus exemplified peace, He was accepting wrongs already done. When He said sell your cloak and buy a sword, that was a forward-looking statement. There is no contradiction here. Peace regarding the past and present, and self defense regarding the future.
2. Suffering from the consequences of the sins of others.
This is a vitally important distinction which we need to keep clear, because these two must be approached in different ways.
Correct response to own sin: repent and accept God's forgiveness. There is no other solution. Just suck it up and do it.
Correct response to the sins of others: this is really complicated, but I can break down into two parts:
a) Forgiveness
b) Distrust
People get really messed up when they fail to see these two parts for what they are. If anyone tells you that to forgive implies that you trust, then he is dangerously wrong. Forgiveness looks to the past; trust looks to the future.
Forgiveness: accept consequences of past wrongs done to you, foregoing the quest for vengeance.
Distrust: be wary of future wrongs that may be done to you.
See the distinction?
Why forgive? Because failure to forgive usurps God's sovereign right of vengeance. God's vengeance is justice, because His judgment is infallible. Man's judgment is not infallible, consequently man's vengeance often compounds injustice.
Why distrust? Because trusting a mortal is idolatry. "Cursed is he who trust in man" says Jeremiah 17. The New Testament warns against false brethren, the goats among the sheep, the blind guides.
Trust God alone. That is the first Commandment.
The less you trust now, the less you will have to forgive later. Forgiveness is hard. Don't increase the burden needlessly.
When Jesus exemplified peace, He was accepting wrongs already done. When He said sell your cloak and buy a sword, that was a forward-looking statement. There is no contradiction here. Peace regarding the past and present, and self defense regarding the future.
