Forgiveness

[hotrhymez]

What are your thoughts on forgiveness? Does everyone deserve a second chance when they make a mistake?

 

[MoreCoffee]

What are your thoughts on forgiveness? Does everyone deserve a second chance when they make a mistake?

Not really. Some "mistakes" are too big to safely allow a second chance. I would not give Hitler a second chance at running Germany. Adn if they impeach Donald Trump I would not like to see him given a second chance at being president.

But forgiveing Htler or donald trump is an act of mercy and I am all for mercy. Hitler would be hard to be merciful to ... but it is wrong to desire mercy for myself and deny it to anybody else who desires it.

 

[Josiah]

What are your thoughts on forgiveness? Does everyone deserve a second chance when they make a mistake?

IMO....

Our deep awareness of our own sinfulness and the MERCY of God toward us goes a LONG WAY in helping us be forgiving and merciful toward others.... I think there is a direct relationship there.


- Josiah

 

[Rens]

https://youtu.be/iocUxV_wKLo

 

[user1234]

The leftist loser haters that hate President Trump and would have preferred an anti-christian, racist, abortionist like Hilary or Obama are really nauseating, don't you think?
And so many of them are religionists who try to claim some kind of moral or spiritual high-ground, but don't know the first thing about God's love and forgiveness enough to receive His salvation.
We've all already been given a 'second' chance, (The wrath of God was meant for us, but Jesus took it in our place) but some ppl, because of things like sin, pride, religion ...
don't seem to want to receive it and get saved, so they don't really give it, either.
Jesus said 70×7 (that doesn't mean we should abuse the grace of God)

 

[~Jo~]

I think that depends on the person and what they did wrong in the first place. I'm always giving people a second chance and third etc doesn't really do much good tho, because they always go back to how things where. so now I think one more chance and I'm gone and they lose a good friend..

 

[hotrhymez]

I didnt really have politics on my mind when I created this thread..though I suppose it does fit...

let's say you and an internet friend get into a huge fight about whatever..and 10 years later they come to you asking to be friends again..do you reconcile or tell them to get lost?

 

[~Jo~]

No comment on that..

 

[Rens]

I think that depends on the person and what they did wrong in the first place. I'm always giving people a second chance and third etc doesn't really do much good tho, because they always go back to how things where. so now I think one more chance and I'm gone and they lose a good friend..

Yes I don't do it anymore either. If they change yes, otherwise they can just buy a dog and treat him like that lol.

 

[Brighten04]

Forgiveness is important to our spiritual health. If we can't forgive, how can we expect forgiveness. Also holding unforgiveness makes you sick. I say forgive and keep it moving.

 

[Lamb]

I didnt really have politics on my mind when I created this thread..though I suppose it does fit...

let's say you and an internet friend get into a huge fight about whatever..and 10 years later they come to you asking to be friends again..do you reconcile or tell them to get lost?

Is that person toxic? If not, go ahead and forgive! Set up healthy boundaries if you need them though!

 

[Rens]

Forgiveness is important to our spiritual health. If we can't forgive, how can we expect forgiveness. Also holding unforgiveness makes you sick. I say forgive and keep it moving.

If people deliberately keep on ruining your life forgive and bless them and cut off contact.
I've been too naive. Next day your kids are taken from you again cause you have to be nice and forgiving. Bye! I'll be friendly if I meet them, but they don't come in my house anymore.

 

[Rens]

-

 

[Rens]

Some people can't be trusted and you have to protect yourself and your family.
My ex always said: you don't have to invite the devil for a cup of coffee.
If someone repents and asks you to forgive them sure, if not, you have to forgive, but don't be so stupid to let them in your house or trust them so they can do the same thing again. Corrie ten Boom led that nazi to the Lord who betrayed them. Would have been wiser to not trust him in the first place.

 

[Rens]

Lol that reminds me. A Dutch traitor in WWII who was on the side of the nazi's was an NSB-er. That was the scum of the earth. Like that guy who let half the family of Corrie ten Boom get killed.
Then my collegue says to another collegue who left for a new job: NSB-er!!
He meant it in fun but the guy didnt like it.
So he complained to us that he didnt like his joke.
I said: he has no sense of humor.

 

[user1234]

If people deliberately keep on ruining your life forgive and bless them and cut off contact.
I've been too naive. Next day your kids are taken from you again cause you have to be nice and forgiving. Bye! I'll be friendly if I meet them, but they don't come in my house anymore.

DELIBERATELY is a key word here.
And 'Ruining Your Life' is also key.
I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be friendly with any people that Deliberately keep on Ruining my life. I'm not letting them in my house, obviously.

But I've done things in my sorry past that I terribly regret, and but by God's grace, could have really ruined others lives, but I didn't do so Deliberately, ... Still, I understand if they never forgive me, that's understandable and I don't blame them, I dont deserve forgiveness anyway.

And there's things I've done as a christian, but again, never to Deliberately cause harm to ANYONE, let alone RUIN their life. I'm not aware of any outstanding debts of apology I owe to anyone, in the recent past, if there are, I'd like to be told by the persons, so I can try to make amends if possible, but I can't if I don't know, and I don't like little hints, I don't do good at guessing games in life, only on game shows.

Flip side is I've been falsely accused, held in contempt, judged and condemned, (and more it seems by ppl who claim to be christians or believers in God of some sort, than even non-believers). It always amazes me how ppl can claim to be christians, but so readily ignore you and gossip and even stab you in the back.

I can and do forgive, Freely we've been given, freely we should give. God's mercies are new every morning, and Jesus said 70×7.

For genuine brothers and sisters in Christ especially, there should Never be this kind of unforgiveness and cold-shoulderism to each other. If they're deliberately harming you, it's pretty doubtful they're saved, but there's that chance that it's not deliberate, and that should be dealt with in love as family. We've got enough enemies out there, I don't understand why christians often seem so bent on trying to make more out of each other. God's call is to love, especially those in Christ.

For the unsaved, it's a bit different. But we should still forgive and remember that it's not God's will that any should perish, but come to repentence. Jesus died for their sins too.
But if they deliberately keep ruining your life, if they're not interested in mercy, God is a God of justice as well, and probably doesn't take too kindly to His sons and daughters being treated like a piece of trash.

 

[Rens]

DELIBERATELY is a key word here.
And 'Ruining Your Life' is also key.
I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be friendly with any people that Deliberately keep on Ruining my life. I'm not letting them in my house, obviously.

But I've done things in my sorry past that I terribly regret, and but by God's grace, could have really ruined others lives, but I didn't do so Deliberately, ... Still, I understand if they never forgive me, that's understandable and I don't blame them, I dont deserve forgiveness anyway.

And there's things I've done as a christian, but again, never to Deliberately cause harm to ANYONE, let alone RUIN their life. I'm not aware of any outstanding debts of apology I owe to anyone, in the recent past, if there are, I'd like to be told by the persons, so I can try to make amends if possible, but I can't if I don't know, and I don't like little hints, I don't do good at guessing games in life, only on game shows.

Flip side is I've been falsely accused, held in contempt, judged and condemned, (and more it seems by ppl who claim to be christians or believers in God of some sort, than even non-believers). It always amazes me how ppl can claim to be christians, but so readily ignore you and gossip and even stab you in the back.

I can and do forgive, Freely we've been given, freely we should give. God's mercies are new every morning, and Jesus said 70×7.

For genuine brothers and sisters in Christ especially, there should Never be this kind of unforgiveness and cold-shoulderism to each other. If they're deliberately harming you, it's pretty doubtful they're saved, but there's that chance that it's not deliberate, and that should be dealt with in love as family. We've got enough enemies out there, I don't understand why christians often seem so bent on trying to make more out of each other. God's call is to love, especially those in Christ.

For the unsaved, it's a bit different. But we should still forgive and remember that it's not God's will that any should perish, but come to repentence. Jesus died for their sins too.
But if they deliberately keep ruining your life, if they're not interested in mercy, God is a God of justice as well, and probably doesn't take too kindly to His sons and daughters being treated like a piece of trash.

I don't see the difference. Believer or not doesn't matter. Deliberate or out of stupidity doesn't matter either, although it's easier to forgive if someone is just stupid.
You have to always forgive anything, but like that woman from church who's so stupid, she thinks its normal to gossip that my house is not clean and try call the gestapo i call them, God bless her dear heart, but please go bother someone else lol.

 

[user1234]

I don't see the difference. Believer or not doesn't matter. Deliberate or out of stupidity doesn't matter either, although it's easier to forgive if someone is just stupid.
You have to always forgive anything, but like that woman from church who's so stupid, she thinks its normal to gossip that my house is not clean and try call the gestapo i call them, God bless her dear heart, but please go bother someone else lol.

Deliberately ruining someones life is intentional and evil. I see a big difference between intentionally harming someone, ruining their life, and inadvertantly causing some mishap. It's the difference between accidentilly causing a traffic accident, and intentionally running them over.

Also, an unbeliever treating us poorly might almost be expected. If they're not saved, then in a sense they're an enemy of the cross, Jesus, and by extension, us.
But a fellow brother or sister in Christ should not be treating us with deliberate harm or ignoring us or let alone trying to ruin our lives.
And yes, I agree, gossip is wrong and can be extremely harmful and destructive.

In keeping with the OP, mistakes can and should be forgiven and second chances given.
That woman gossiping about you doesnt sound like a mistake, that sounds deliberate.
And from a church-goer, (who you want to believe is a fellow genuine christian) that can really hurt. But still forgiveable, as you said, but if that kind of thing continues and seeks to ruin your life, it does get harder to forgive, I agree.

Rather than gossip and put you down, she should first build you up and say what a good job you're doing taking care of the boys and bunnies and all you do, and perhaps offer to lend a hand with some cleanup or watch the kids for a bit, as a sister in Christ.

(Btw, Rens, you're doing a great job!) :hug:

 

[Rens]

Deliberately ruining someones life is intentional and evil. I see a big difference between intentionally harming someone, ruining their life, and inadvertantly causing some mishap. It's the difference between accidentilly causing a traffic accident, and intentionally running them over.

Also, an unbeliever treating us poorly might almost be expected. If they're not saved, then in a sense they're an enemy of the cross, Jesus, and by extension, us.
But a fellow brother or sister in Christ should not be treating us with deliberate harm or ignoring us or let alone trying to ruin our lives.
And yes, I agree, gossip is wrong and can be extremely harmful and destructive.

In keeping with the OP, mistakes can and should be forgiven and second chances given.
That woman gossiping about you doesnt sound like a mistake, that sounds deliberate.
And from a church-goer, (who you want to believe is a fellow genuine christian) that can really hurt. But still forgiveable, as you said, but if that kind of thing continues and seeks to ruin your life, it does get harder to forgive, I agree.

Rather than gossip and put you down, she should first build you up and say what a good job you're doing taking care of the boys and bunnies and all you do, and perhaps offer to lend a hand with some cleanup or watch the kids for a bit, as a sister in Christ.

(Btw, Rens, you're doing a great job!) :hug:

It doesn't matter. I got furious at her once but no it's not deliberate or yes it is but well meaning? It baffled me and then I was like: oh well, she just has no clue, never mind. But with some people you need boundaries. She did that twice. I forgive and forget. Third time I got mad and then I got smart. My dad would say: a donkey in general doesn't bump his head 3 times to the same stone.

 

[user1234]

Ó

It doesn't matter. I got furious at her once but no it's not deliberate or yes it is but well meaning? It baffled me and then I was like: oh well, she just has no clue, never mind. But with some people you need boundaries. She did that twice. I forgive and forget. Third time I got mad and then I got smart. My dad would say: a donkey in general doesn't bump his head 3 times to the same stone.

Yes, indeed. It's the old 'Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me'.
I guess the hard part is when you love someone and you know God is calling you to keep on loving them, what choice do you have? You pray they see and stop hurting you, but God says to forgive 70×7 .... He didn't say it's so easy, especially when it hurts so much and they keep hurting you. But love doesn't cling to wrongs and bring them up at a later time to use against the person, but forgives and seeks the greater good.
When we forgive, it should be done, if they hurt us again, we should forgive again.
This is the ideal, but soo hard. But it's not intended for them to continue to mistreat, ignore, gossip, etc., but to help them see how their error is causing harm and that love is the better way.

And yes, if she has no clue, that's one thing, but if it's a deliberate intent to cause harm or ruin a life, that's another. And God knows our heart, whether we are being deliberately mean, intending to cause harm, or wanting the best for the other person, not wishing ill will or wanting bad to come their way.
Intentions are often misjudged or misunderstood, but God knows our hearts, also none of us are without need for forgiveness, and to grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus. And there's joy in the Lord, ... that seems to be missing alot in all this, the joy of forgiveness, restoration, reconciliation, ... It's about seeing ppl saved and growing in Christ. Deliberate harm, and unforgiveness, both hinder love and joy.