emery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) (06/23/91)
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'" (Matthew 18:21) With this illustration, we see that love is always willing to go the extra mile. It is driven to extend forgiveness even when the pain from a wound inflicted by another is present. It seeks to bear the pain just one more time. It always wants to persevere. Forgiveness is the healing salve that sooths the pain of a hurt spirit. One myth about forgiveness is "if I forgive that person, I am denying what they did to me. How can I just ignore it?" However, forgiveness is not denying the wrong that another has done unto you, it is acknowledging that wrong and then deciding to release that person from one's intention to retaliate and retain bitterness until justice is done. Forgiveness is also demonstrated by a loving God who offered eternal forgiveness to all who will receive it, through His Son Jesus. Take time today to remember those who have wronged you. Set yourself free from the chains of bitterness by the choice to forgive. With love, John Emery emery@tc.fluke.COM
lhccjeh@lure.latrobe.edu.au (James Hale) (06/25/91)
In article <Jun.22.21.20.03.1991.18184@athos.rutgers.edu>, emery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) writes: > "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall > I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?' > Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven > times.'" (Matthew 18:21) > > > With this illustration, we see that love is always willing to go > the extra mile. It is driven to extend forgiveness even when the > pain from a wound inflicted by another is present. It seeks to > bear the pain just one more time. It always wants to persevere. > > Forgiveness is the healing salve that sooths the pain of a hurt > spirit. One myth about forgiveness is "if I forgive that person, > I am denying what they did to me. How can I just ignore it?" > However, forgiveness is not denying the wrong that another has done > unto you, it is acknowledging that wrong and then deciding to release > that person from one's intention to retaliate and retain bitterness > until justice is done. > Maybe its a little bit more. To forgive someone whom you think has committed a wrong against you is psychologically and practically extremely difficult. Is it not often the case where we say that we have forgiven yet some time later we remember the incident and may even use it. Forgiveness in this sense really needs to be forgive AND forget for it to work. Scott Peck in his _What_Return_Can_I_Make_ tells a delightful anecdote about a young girl in the Phillipines I think. It had been claimed that she *spoke* to Jesus (I think) in trance. Word of this reached the Church and the matter was considered to require investigation. The Bishop (or whatever) investigating the case had many meetings with the girl but was unable to fault her stories. He finally thought the ask the girl to ask Jesus to tell her what was the subject of his (the Bishop's) last confession. If, he reasoned, she did indeed communicate with Jesus, He would know. The next time he met the girl he eventually got around to asking her if she had asked Him. She said yes. He then asked what was the reply She said "He forgot". The truthfulness or otherwise of this story is not what I wish to bring up. Its the story behind it. That is when we forgive it must be as if we forget. If we don't forget, there is always the danger of us *un-forgiving* at a later time. Another aspect of forgiveness that makes sense to some (I am speaking for myself here) is the acceptance that we are all one in Christ. That although there is this ego thing that we call different names that we normally deal with, behind (or under) it all is The One. This cannot commit sin at all, and certainly not against us as it is us. (Boy can words get in the way) Forgiveness recognises this, and so in effect there is nothing to really forgive because our real Self cannot do anything that needs it. This approach also side steps the problem of feeling superior to another in forgiving them. We have been forgiven by God (he never really condemned us to begin with) and so who are we to argue. > Forgiveness is also demonstrated by a loving God who offered eternal > forgiveness to all who will receive it, through His Son Jesus. > > Take time today to remember those who have wronged you... Forgive them at then forget it. > ...Set yourself > free from the chains of bitterness by the choice to forgive. > > With love, > > John Emery > emery@tc.fluke.COM -- _____________________________________________________________________________ James Hale Lincoln School of Health Sciences Computing Unit La Trobe University,Bundoora, AUSTRALIA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- My sinless brother is my guide to peace. | Lesson 351 My sinful brother is my guide to pain. | Workbook P470 And which I choose to see I will behold. | _____________________________________________________________________________