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#Post#: 3556--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sore Afraid
By: Kerry Date: January 4, 2016, 3:02 pm
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[quote author=Piper link=topic=398.msg3550#msg3550
date=1451932562]
People. The history of my life has taught me not to trust
easily, that people hurt and betray, yet my faith has taught me
to forgive, without reservation--even regardless of apology by
the offending party. I lay it down. I try again. I let the
people who hurt me, who disrespect and betray me, who trample my
pearls, trash my hard-won faith, back into my life-- because I
was taught to forgive, and I am good at willingly forgetting.
However, the conundrum is that by doing so, I find myself in the
same sinking ship, over and over. 70 x7, yes . . . But.
Forgiving does not mean deliberately placing oneself in harm's
way. And, while I believe in forgiveness, I absolutely believe
in the value of sincere apology. The key word is 'sincere',
because apology stems from repentance, and God, Himself, asks
that we repent when we have done wrong. If we can not apologize
after an offense, it is because we are either too proud or we
feel no repentance. [/quote]You may want to forgive someone;
but if he doesn't want to change by repenting, he remains
unforgiven. If he is unwilling to do penance to undo any harm
he's done, his apology if there is one is fake. Some people
put up fake apologies because they think you need to be placated
or feel superior. Others see you as stupid, someone they can
walk over time and again. Far from doing penance, some people
seem to get a kick out of being told you forgive them so they
can do it again, pulling the rug out from under you. You may
wish to forgive them and have God forgive them; but if they see
your goodness as something to be exploited, you are in that
strange position where showing them kindness can make them
worse.
I do not think Jesus meant we can forgive someone 490 times for
the same offense. Such a person is not learning from his
mistakes or appreciating your generosity. His repentance was
sham, so there is no real forgiveness except in your mind as
what you want for him. If he learns from his mistakes he's
made with you, you have done him a great service as a servant
of Christ. He has his reward and you will have yours too since
you were part of how God solved the problem.
As a witness for God, you have the ability to teach others that
one person can forgive and forget if the other person genuinely
repents is a key to unlock other things. He can then believe
all his other sins might be fixed. It dawns on him that maybe
Jesus taught some truth. It doesn't work though if he is
faking repentance. In that case, he is not your brother nor
should you try to treat him as a brother. He must learn that
repentance is more than having someone else being willing to
forgive him.
Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto
you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother
their trespasses.
Out of time. I'll already be late for work.
#Post#: 3557--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sore Afraid
By: Piper Date: January 4, 2016, 3:12 pm
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[font=trebuchet ms]^ Save me some pizza. :)
Have a good day![/font]
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