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Date Posted: 15:03:27 07/01/04 Thu
Author: Joe
Subject: Re: Why not just forgive them and move on?
In reply to: Mike K. 's message, "Why not just forgive them and move on?" on 07:08:54 06/30/04 Wed

>

1. Biblical forgiveness comes with a
>pre-condition.

Many have long quoted Acts 2:38
>without listening to the words: And Peter said to
>them, �Repent, and let each of you be baptised in the
>name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;
>and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit�
>(Acts 2:38).
>
>There is no biblical forgiveness without repentance,
>no matter what the soft-hearted religious types say.
>Jesus said, Unless you repent, you will all likewise
>perish (Luke 13:3).
>
>I have the responsibility before God to hold these men
>accountable for their sin and to insist that they
>repent publicly. Without such repentance, they face a
>loss in eternity.

Here's my take: I must forgive because Jesus commands me to, even up to 70 x 7 times. We forgive for our own good because we don't need to be eaten up by anger and bitterness all our lives. And sometimes our words of forgiveness can be a real healer for the opposite party who may be ridden by guilt for what they have done. But do our words of forgiveness do any good for someone who sees no need to be forgiven, whose self-delusion is so great that they believe that all they've ever done is the "work of God" or is somehow justified by the "work of God," so that they don't need anybody's forgiveness? Our words of forgiveness alone may just embolden them and enable them to just continue in their self-delusion to the continued harm of others.

When children commit an act of vandalism or some other mischief, do we just tell them that we forgive them and that's it? No. We have to go a step further and help them see and experience the real consequences of their wrong-doing, so that the misbehavior doesn't become a pattern.

We have to forgive, but we also have to love our neighbor as ourselves, and sometimes that love requires us to oppose them and speak the truth about them. But the chief motivation, I believe, should be compassion.

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Replies:

Re: Why not just forgive them and move on? -- Mike K., 14:24:50 07/03/04 Sat

1. Biblical forgiveness comes with a >pre-condition.

1. Biblical forgiveness comes with a
>pre-condition.