Forgiving ourselves...

[light_eclipseca]

Can--and, if so, should--a Christian forgive themself? (I would like to request that a mod move this thread to it's proper forum, I didn't realize that this was the incorrect one, sorry :-S)

 

[light_eclipseca]

Sorry, I'll just leave this one to be deleted and put it in the correct place. I found where I should put it.

 

[mrscplus]

I once heard a speaker on this very topic. And the short answer is "Yes".

The reasoning was this. If God, the One who is all-knowing, all-powerful, forgives you, what gives you the right to place yourself above that and choose not to for give yourself. She she asked, "are you more powerful than God, is your righteousness more correct that God's".

We are the first person we should be forgiving, because we have been forgiven. Often the hardest step, but necessary to give others full forgiveness.

 

[dayhiker]

I'd say a Christian should definately forgive himself. Putting behind the past and pressing forward into what Jesus has for us is one of the best things one can do for themself.

 

[TheBandRain]

Absolutely yes. If you can't find it in yourself to let go as God has let go then you can end up with tons of extra baggage that you can't carry. A lot of times we will put guilt on ourselves to make ourselves feel better. We think, "If I can make myself feel low enough, God will see that I really do care." God needs us to forget so he can pick us back up and use us. Satan loves to remind Christian's of their past. Next time he does just tell him that you don't remember that because God through it away. God doesn't need us to remind him of our sins. So, yes. It's not just important to forgive yourself, it's an absolute necessity.

 

[SaintMichaeltheArchangel]

From the biblical standpoint, you should love yourself as you love others. Forgiving others is a loving act. Forgiving yourself is also a loving act. From a "secular" standpoint, not forgiving yourself can lead to mental illness (really).