Family Life Resources•Newsletter
| NYM
Ministries
Family Life Resources•Newsletter |
| Subscribe to receive Today's Native Father with all its features FREE, | Articles Index | Read current issue of TNF | |
|
PRODUCT/RESOURCES INDEX |
This article is from Today's
Native Father, issue #130,November/December, 2003. Related articles from this issue: |
Forgiveness Myths A Bible Study by David Hertzler |
|
Our world paints a false picture of forgiveness, as it does of love and other divine attributes. People sometimes refuse to forgive because they have this false picture of forgiveness in their minds. Myth 1: Unless I forget the offense, I have not truly forgiven. Jeremiah 31:34. Is “remember no more” the same as forgetting? Or does it mean instead, “I won’t think about it any more”? Luke 23:34. When Jesus forgave his executioners, did he forget what they did to him? What did he tell his disciples to remember whenever they observed the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:26)? Myth 2: If the relationship is not restored, I have not truly forgiven. Acts 7:59-60. When Stephen forgave the men who stoned him, was their relationship restored? 2 Timothy 4:16. When Paul forgave those who failed to stand by him, was their relationship restored? What does it take to restore a relationship, besides the willingness of the one who is wronged? Myth 3: Forgiveness ignores or minimizes (makes less serious) the offense. Genesis 50:15-21. When Joseph forgave his brothers, did he forget what they had done to him? Did he treat the offense as less serious than it really was? What did he call the offense? (If you forget what the brothers did to Joseph, read Genesis 37.) Myth 4: Forgiveness requires me to protect the offender from the consequences of his wrong-doing. 1 Kings 2:8-9, 36-46. King David pardoned Shimei, and King Solomon gave him a chance to “make good.” But when Shimei’s evil heart again caused him to step out of line, what happened to him? Romans 12:17-21. To whom does vengeance belong? If we treat offenders with kindness, will it prevent God from executing just vengeance on them? Myth 5: If I forgive, I deserve to be rewarded with forgiveness for my own wrong-doing. Titus 3:4-7. What works can I do that are good enough to earn God’s forgiveness? Acts 5:31. What action on my part is a condition for God’s forgiveness of my sins? |
|
