Could You Forgive Someone Who Tried to Kill You?

Monday, 13 July 2009

Could You Forgive Someone Who Tried to Kill You?
In March 2009, Rev. Fred Winters was shot dead during a Sunday sermon in Maryville, Illinois. After all this, his wife said if he had survived, that Fred would forgive the shooter.
We all know that God wants us to love our enemies, but I personally think that me and you probably don't keep to that one well. When my brother hits me, my first reaction is to hit him back. Before I can even think about resisting, it's too late. To me, it's one of the hardest habit to break. I found a verse that says exactly that –
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:43-50 (NIV)
Could you forgive someone who attempted to murder you?

recommend
recs 2
share
email
sent 0

Comments (40)

browse comments:
next ›
last »

only if they wer successful i cant forgiva a job poorly dun
- 7/13/2009 4:09 PM
- pansybradshaw@xanga (message)
- reply
I think if you won't forgive then you are not a follower of Jesus. Forgiveness is not easy, that's why he had to die. Did you miss that sermon?
- 7/13/2009 4:21 PM
- dirtbubble@xanga (message)
- reply
Probably. There are things far worse than death.
This reminds me of when Corrie Ten Boom was reunited with a Nazi from her time in prison camps. He apologized and told her that he had become a Christian. She explains her struggle to forgive him in the split seconds before she had to respond to him. It was pretty crazy.
- 7/13/2009 4:42 PM
- princess1505angel@xanga (message)
- reply
I could forgive someone for trying to kill me, but I don't know if I could forgive someone for trying to kill someone close to me.
- 7/13/2009 4:46 PM
- quicksandbuddy@xanga (message)
- reply
I don't know. A friend of mine was attacked a few years ago and nearly lost his life. The attacker was an escaped convict and didn't know my friend at the time. His throat was cut from behind because this guy just wanted to kill his "first white guy since I got out of prison". My friend is a black belt but he was taken totally by suprise. But had it not been for his training in Karate he would've been killed. The next time I see him I'll ask him if he has been able to forgive his assailant. My guess is that he will say "Yes".
- 7/13/2009 4:48 PM
- designandart@xanga (message)
- reply
It depends.

If someone with a mental illness tried to kill me, I could probably forgive them. If it was for any other reason, I wouldn't be so sure. But I would hope that I would try.
- 7/13/2009 5:06 PM
- lowerwestside@xanga (message)
- reply
that's a big fat no from me!
how can you forgive someone who tried to rob you of life?!
- 7/13/2009 5:14 PM
- misstephy@xanga (message)
- reply
Should I? Yes. Could I? I hope so.
- 7/13/2009 5:19 PM
- Pass_the_Aura@xanga (message)
- reply
I'll tell you when someone tries.
- 7/13/2009 5:29 PM
- MCTCanadian@xanga (message)
- reply
Two answers. One from my friend who is sitting next to me: "Jesus did. Jesus said, 'Forgive them for they know not what they do.' Also, 'I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.'"
And my response: I hope so. I'm trying to learn how to forgive in the small things now, so if I were faced with such a huge issue I'd be ready to forgive in all humility and devotion to Christ.
- 7/13/2009 5:37 PM
- soy_esteban@xanga (message)
- reply
Been there, done that, have the T-shirt. If you don't forgive, the weight will doom you. The requirement to forgive is for the good of the victims, not the offender.

Forgiveness is an act of self-love.
- 7/13/2009 5:49 PM
- LoBornlyte@xanga (message)
- reply
For a wounded man shall say to his assailant,

'If I live, I will kill you. If I die, You are forgiven.'

Such is the rule of honour.
- 7/13/2009 5:48 PM
- Pcgecko85@xanga (message)
- reply
Plain and simply put...no.
- 7/13/2009 7:12 PM
- thechad666@xanga (message)
- reply
plain and simply put... yes.
- 7/13/2009 7:14 PM
- computerarts@xanga (message)
- reply
I wouldn't know exactly how I feel until someone actually tries to kill me.

I'm not suggesting anything by that.
- 7/13/2009 8:04 PM
- niceBrice@xanga (message)
- reply
Yes ....but it would be hard .
- 7/13/2009 8:23 PM
- tillseptemberends@xanga (message)
- reply
yes.
i would forgive because this person reminded me how valuable my life is to me. and there's no reason to live with a weight like hatred.
if you don't forgive, there's no reason for you to have lived.
- 7/13/2009 8:53 PM
- kleptos_get_it_free@xanga (message)
- reply
Yes.
- 7/13/2009 11:58 PM
- ultravioletskies08@xanga (message)
- reply
"It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life that I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God" - Christ did forgive those who killed Him, His power in me would teach me to do the same.
- 7/14/2009 12:04 AM
- shards_of_beauty@xanga (message)
- reply
Yeah.
- 7/14/2009 12:11 AM
- whataboutbahb@xanga (message)
- reply
I would forgive him/her, but put lots of distance between them and me.

Amrita

www.yesugarden.blogspot.com
- 7/14/2009 12:28 AM
- Amrita (site)
- reply
Yes. Jesus' death broke our need for the endless cycle of an eye for an eye. To not forgive is to say his death wasn't good enough.
- 7/14/2009 1:01 AM
- CommieForADay@xanga (message)
- reply
sure.
i'd still want them to rot in prison or get the needle, though. forgiveness doesn't mean exculpation.
- 7/14/2009 1:10 AM
- too_pretty_to_die@xanga (message)
- reply
There's a missionary who was a WW2 fighter pilot fighting the Japanese. After the war, he met a former Japanese fighter pilot who tried to kill him and shared the Gospel with him. The Japanese pilot converted and afterwords the two became lifelong friends. It is possible. I would forgive them, but I hope what I just said isn't put to the test.
- 7/14/2009 10:52 AM
- FOXHOUND_HQ@xanga (message)
- reply
Like Loborn I have done that as well. I have forgiven a lot and hope to be forgiven more.
p
- 7/14/2009 11:56 AM
- Pashe@xanga (message)
- reply