True Forgiveness Vs. Warm Fuzzy Feelings

[Adara]

Came across this article on Radio TWC while musing on how the concept of Christian forgiveness can sometimes be misunderstood:
[SIZE=-1] [/SIZE]

In modern Western thought, writing on forgiveness is almost exclusively focused on the process within, the virtues of the freedom found by the forgiver. It is common for teaching on forgiveness never to get to what Jesus actually taught, but to focus only on tolerance and love.


Unfortunately, most writing on forgiveness in Western Christianity could omit the word and speak only of love, since, in New Testament terms, that is all that is addressed. If being able to love the offender or the offended once more were all that is needed, then both could take the step of an attitude change in the privacy of their closet or heart and go on without true repentance and change.

But that is not what Jesus intended.

(The rest can be read here.)

 

[christian73]

Came across this article on Radio TWC while musing on how the concept of Christian forgiveness can sometimes be misunderstood:
[SIZE=-1] [/SIZE]

(The rest can be read here.)

Forgivness is a very touchy subject. Jesus told us to forgive people who have wronged us. In my opinion, I think a lot of people think forgiveness means forgetting. Not so.

Think about it. When the Lord says, "I will remember your sins no more.", what does that mean? He knows everything, so how can He forget? I think what He's saying is, "I will never bring this up against you."

I think this is what Jesus meant by forgive those who have wronged you. You are not expected to forget, but when you forgive someone, you are not to ever bring it up again. That's true forgiveness.

 

[ACADEMIC]

You can bring it up again for redemptive purposes.

Joseph forgave his brothers but did talk about it redemptively, "What you meant for evil God meant for good".

It is our perspective on offenses that exhibits our forgiveness, not our silence.

 

[ZiSunka]

Forgiveness is an act of the will, not an emotion.

Even after you forgive someone, the emotions related to the hurt may come back over and over again, and you might need to remind yourself that that person is now forgiven and you have no right to continue to be angry against them.

Unforgiveness is a sin that hurts the person who refuses to forgive, but often has little effect on the person who has not been forgiven.

 

[MrJim]

Forgiveness is an act of the will, not an emotion.

Even after you forgive someone, the emotions related to the hurt may come back over and over again, and you might need to remind yourself that that person is now forgiven and you have no right to continue to be angry against them.

Unforgiveness is a sin that hurts the person who refuses to forgive, but often has little effect on the person who has not been forgiven.

 

[Danfrey]

I see forgiveness as the act of giving up my right for justice concerning the issue.

 

[Adara]

When the Amish community in Nickel Mines, Pa. were placed under the scrutiny of the world last month, I overheard someone say, "Well, I am a Christian, and I believe in turning the other cheek and all, but I could never forgive someone for something as evil as that."

Which made me think that either A) this person was perhaps not Christian, or B) this person does not understand what true forgiveness is.

To re-iterate:

*Forgiveness is not just about making ourselves feel more noble than others.
*Forgiveness is not just a theraputic tool to "release" our pain.
*Forgiveness is not just lip-service, but a radical change of the heart.
*Forgiveness can involve anyone -- murderers, adulterers, even those who nailed Christ to the cross.

and most importantly,

*Forgiveness is absolutely and utterly impossible without God in our lives.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

One of the first things I learned decades ago devouring Scripture is that believers immersed in Yahshua don't even think of having rights of their own and don't get offended because they aren't offended not because they are offended and cover it up.


Also, being able to FORGET IS AN ACT OF THE WILL, (OR SURRENDER TO YAHWEH);
and is possible and needs to be exampled and practiced for experiential Knowledge of Truth.

..