The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Amish beliefs

john,


I do see what you mean and I agree that the confusion on this thread is due to the different definitions assigned to the word "forgiveness".

So - I will declare what my definition is:

Forgiveness is an unmerited gift given to a repentant offender, that is initiated by the offender himself by asking. In other words, forgiveness takes "two to tango" as the offender must repent and ask before he is able to receive forgiveness.

The fact is that an unrepentant offender will only consider forgiveness to be judgement/manipulation by the victim, and will inevitably respond to the true victim's "forgiveness" with resentment or even aggression. This is because the offender errantly believes or denies that he has done anything wrong (or sinful) in the first place.

We may not confuse true forgiveness with a willingness to forgive, or a lack of malice/vengeance, or prayer on the part of the victim on behalf of the unrepentent offender.

To put this as simply as possible; It is impossible to forgive without a repentant "forgive-ee".

Denny

Romans 3:22-24

Denny

I believe that when we have recieved God's forgiveness, it creates in us the desire to forgive others. If a man wrongs me. I must forgive him, I must not wait until he comes to me. If I do not forgive, I should fear my standing before God. But I must forgive in my spirit immediately and perhaps a word of forgiveness can be extended when the person has acknowledged his or her sin.

Ephesians 4 31-32 (King James Version)
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

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William

William,


I agree with your post very near completely. However, you must understand that it is not possible and you cannot truly and meaningfully forgive him unless he comes to you in repentence. Until that time you can only stand without bitterness, wrath or anger willing to forgive. It is not possible because if he is unrepentant he will not ask for or accept your forgiveness, and your forgiveness can never be consummated <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/argue.gif" alt="" /> until he does.

Denny

Romans 3:22-24