I think I'm a pretty forgiving person. That and I'm forgetful. I don't think holding a grudge is worth the time and energy but I have to admit, sometimes it's a harder to let it go. Again, I'm not Christian, but I can appreciate some of the Bibles teachings. I think it's a shame that some people go to church because it feels like an obligation and they sit there and they don't even really pay attention. It just seems like they haven't given their faith much thought, when, in my opinion, that is something that should be given a lot of thought.

great post.  i just have to add that Christians don't only deny Jesus by blatantly sinful lifestyles, but also with the little things.  we spend so much time focused on the "big sins" that the little ones slip by.  As long as we are obviously "good" then we are fine and don't need to keep checking our thoughts and attitudes and other things that come out in our lives and are "unbelievable to unbelievers."

i have definitely had to forgive someone lately.  and it was really really rough.  and way more than worth it. :)

ah, forgiveness.
i've had a few instances in my life when i could not forgive out of bitterness. it was hard. but once we start praying for those who wronged us, God softens our hearts and lets us know that we are in the exact same situation of needing forgiveness. and i made the decision to forgive. but forgiveness is not ONLY action; it requires God's touch to heal our hearts, for we cannot bring about a change of heart on our own. there was an incident recently in which i did something wrong and had the hardest time forgiving myself. i battered myself over my transgressions for months and months, and finally, when God spoke to my heart and let me know how foolish i was being for holding onto my sins when he himself had forgiven me.

and the wonderful thing about that we are made "righteous" though our flesh fails us time and again, once we turn our eyes to God who is infinitely righteous and thus infinitely forgiving of us -- even when we can't forgive ourselves.

i do believe, however, that if we truly know Christ and see ourselves as we are, imperfect but made perfect in his sight, we cannot help BUT to forgive.

Wonderful post.

Amen!

Victim, but certainly not an innocent victim.....

and I love the fact that you include the band War of Ages....that makes me happy

@sheepthatsblack@xanga - War of Ages totally rocks my face off. I just saw them in Concert last weekend. Really good stuff. Thanks for commenting!

I always feel convicted to forgive people.  I think that the people who blindly forgive, and continue sinning even through they are trying to improve, are better off then those who are not aware, or even do not forgive.  That might be a worse sin.

Hypocrite in the greek when applied to the believer is one who acts a part as with a mask in a play. So basically a hypocrite is one who plays the part but is only an actor (actress).

If one is a hypocrite Christianity can be nearly impossible, as it is NOT a behavior modification program, but a heart transformation. It is a life that starts from death.

You would no more join the military without going through basic training and renewing your mind than you could expect to start afresh and renew your mind as a Christian. Really read Romans 12, the instruction on practical Christian living.

Romans 7 is a good signpost indicator to know. If I am going down the highway and their is a curve sign and I ignore it and drive over a cliff, it is "my bad."

Since the Spirit resides in a new believer upon regeneration, when we are in sin, we also know we are in ourselves, and not in Christ, who we are commanded to be following and in. Not for salvation, but for living the Christian life. It is when others see us claiming to be Christs and living as the world, they say hypocrite.  Or rather , they see hypocrite.

It is what you do at this point that matters, God has said curve, do you turn the wheel now, and adjust to the correct path, or do you say I know a better way? 

I would point one thing out-things were much worse when Jesus came to the world than they are today. Satan had not been defeated. Sin was rampant. Religion was as bad then as it is now, maybe worse(?). And the New Covenant was not yet in force, so the Comforter had not yet come for the believer. When He did come look at the difference it made even in the apostles.

We have different ways to sin, but there is nothing new under the sun when it comes to sinning. It has been in the heart since the fall.

Forgiveness is oh-so-hard, especially when the person or people who wronged us keep doing the same things, over and over, to hurt us, or when they do something that continues to hurt us every day of our lives, causing irreparable damage somehow, to our health, our body, our souls, our psyche - some things just don't heal. Some sins are more easily forgiven and forgotten - we can move on, get past it, heal, over time, and give ourselves the gift of forgiving that person, which lifts a burden for us.  Are some sins unforgiveable?  If we've been abused, raped, made ill, our child was hurt, our family was damaged?  What if the people who hurt us are fellow Christians and should really "know better" and realize what they are doing?  Yes, we are all sinners - all "mistake makers." No one of us is perfect, no, not one.  I'm not saying we should not forgive certain people, or certain sins....just that it is very, very difficult.  I have been working very hard on forgiving certain people, and it seems almost impossible, in some cases, to get to the point where I can say "It's okay that they did that.  I can let it go now.  I forgive them."   I know it's what's best for US, to forgive others, whether they are sorry or not - it's hell to live with anger and resentment and pain - but sometimes, what they've done is just never "okay now."  Christians hurting other Christians is about the worst, in my opinion.  Yes, it does seem hypocritical.  It causes one to lose their faith in the "body of Christ."  But I guess we have to remember that we are all in the same boat, and all equally guilty of hurting others.

thanks for the post :) 

Do I think it is hypocritical not to forgive?  Absolutely,and the Bible says as much.  God forgave us our debt, which is so much greater than any debt anyone could incur against us.  But I hope than we are talking about forgiveness (and I'm not saying anyone isn't) that we are able to acknowledge just how unable we are to forgive without the help of Christ, and that we in no way belittle someone for struggling with forgiveness because their pain is so great.  I hope that when we speak of forgiveness, it is with compassion and the acknowledgement of pain and hurt, and that forgiveness is not just saying "ok, it's ok, no big deal."  In forgiveness, we acknowledge that what the person did was wrong, we acknowledge out hurt and anger, but we do not take matters into our own hands.  We place them in God's hands, and let any consequences for their actions against us be taken care of by Him. 

Thanks for posting this, unforgiveness is such a crucial issue in the body of Christ, I hope we can all see how important it is, even affecting our very salvation.

This is a really wise post. It is really hard not to sin; we are humans with sins creeping on us every where we turn! Us Christians, we try to live each day for God, yet we constantly make mistakes. It's so amazing and beautiful how God always forgives our sins, but the shame that comes with every mistake you make really is "crushing, to say at the least." Truly, I agree with how Christians can be quite hyprocritical when they do not forgive someone. Forgetting and forgiving...I see them really connected to each other and the verse is true - You don't forgive someone, God will not forgive you. You have to be loving and you have to move on with your life nomatter what others has done to you, though it can be hard. But I guess I'm just summarizing everything you're saying. I believe that I have been forgiving someone who does make me angry a lot. And it gets really hard, especially when the repetition sort of drives you nuts. But I have to think of doing the right thing, for myself, for the person who made me angry, and for God.

Thanks for making this post, I'm glad I can relate to it :)