Forgiveness
So, I've been thinking.
Marriage, relationships, etc, in life...forgiveness. When should you forgive? When should you unabashedly forgive, forget and pretend like things didn't happen? Forgiveness is always supposed to be like you're wiping the slate clean.
The bible talks about God's forgiveness for us and how he throws it into the sea never to be remembered again.
There are instances in relationships, marriages in particular, that I'm just not OK with people forgiving and forgetting and moving on as if nothing happened. In fact, it really bothers me when they do. It feels like you're training somebody that it's OK to treat you poorly; especially when they have shown no signs of remorse.
But for your own sanity you have to forgive and forget, but also move on.
The word repentance is incredible because most people just think it means to say you're sorry like a child that repeats it almost without thinking because they've been trained it's the right thing to do even though it isn't sincere. {And on that note it is incredibly difficult to train a child to feel sincerely apologetic}.
This is the dictionary version of it, but the biblical version literally means to do a 180, to turn around and flee in the other direction of your bad behavior.
God always forgave when asked, but I believe he also already knew you would sin again.
The ultimate story that comes to mind when I think of forgiveness is Adam & Eve. They disobeyed God's command and ate the one fruit they were told to avoid, they were even told the consequences. God forgave them, but because of their actions they had dire consequences.
I believe in every relationship that you need to forgive, but it doesn't mean that there won't be any consequences, like damaged trust.
And once trust has been damaged, or respect, it's so hard to get it back.
Marriage, relationships, etc, in life...forgiveness. When should you forgive? When should you unabashedly forgive, forget and pretend like things didn't happen? Forgiveness is always supposed to be like you're wiping the slate clean.
The bible talks about God's forgiveness for us and how he throws it into the sea never to be remembered again.
Delight to show mercy. We should be like this, but I can't help feeling that sometimes it makes you look the fool. I suppose when you really strive to love somebody you need to get used to looking like the fool. God doesn't forgive us unless we ask for forgiveness. So is He then using it as an example that when people repent and ask for our forgiveness then we should forgive?Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
There are instances in relationships, marriages in particular, that I'm just not OK with people forgiving and forgetting and moving on as if nothing happened. In fact, it really bothers me when they do. It feels like you're training somebody that it's OK to treat you poorly; especially when they have shown no signs of remorse.
But for your own sanity you have to forgive and forget, but also move on.
The word repentance is incredible because most people just think it means to say you're sorry like a child that repeats it almost without thinking because they've been trained it's the right thing to do even though it isn't sincere. {And on that note it is incredibly difficult to train a child to feel sincerely apologetic}.
verb (used without object)1.to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. (often followed by of ): He repented after his thoughtless act.2.to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better; be penitent.verb (used with object)3.to remember or regard with self-reproach or contrition: to repent one's injustice to another.4.to feel sorry for; regret: to repent an imprudent act.
This is the dictionary version of it, but the biblical version literally means to do a 180, to turn around and flee in the other direction of your bad behavior.
God always forgave when asked, but I believe he also already knew you would sin again.
The ultimate story that comes to mind when I think of forgiveness is Adam & Eve. They disobeyed God's command and ate the one fruit they were told to avoid, they were even told the consequences. God forgave them, but because of their actions they had dire consequences.
I believe in every relationship that you need to forgive, but it doesn't mean that there won't be any consequences, like damaged trust.
And once trust has been damaged, or respect, it's so hard to get it back.
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