Forgiveness, How Far Do You Take It?

prophecor

Has it ever happened to you, something so dispicable you would rather go to your grave, not having forgiven someone a wrong they had done you, hopeful that God would sort it out in the end? Mind you, I know things like child molestation, rape and murder are things for which it is difficult, if not impossible, to be forgiving of. That being said, where does one draw the line on forgiveness? Scripturally speaking, we are to be forgiving of our brother indefinitely, as Christ would have us to believe, however, is that realistic, or more so idealistic? Are we to be constantly turning the other cheek until we find our head removed from our shoulders, oneday? How far do you go to forgive those who've wronged you? Where do you draw the line and once that line has been crossed, what do you do with un-resolve issues regarding forgiveness, if any?

the_classicist

Hmm... you don't just give out forgiveness easily, rather you forgive when the person is truly repentant... this repetence includes penance. However, we ourselves must refrain from judgement.

Freedom Fighter

This is something I tend to struggle with...I do forgive but I don't forget. I can quite easily nurse a grudge for as long as it takes, which is not something I'm particularly proud of.

It all depends on the perceived 'wrong' and who has committed it.

FF

kls

Somethings that people have done i have forgiven and it was easy but others i cannot and will not forgive, wether they are already dead or not. If there is a GOD and he want's to deal with it when they die it makes no difference to me. There are just somethings i can ans never will forgive for any reason.

Do i sound a little bitter? if it's yes then i guess i got my point across.

Prop,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,good question

HadEnuf

If someone is truly sorry, and does show that in a way that I can see he/she/they meant it...then I can forgive. But when "something so despicable" happens to you and the perpetrators of that crime show no repentance; I don't and I won't forgive. I've read a lot of books on forgiveness and they alway say that to hate someone hurts you more than it does them. But even though I may hate someone, I don't let it control my thinking process and try to let it go. Out of sight, out of mind. Christ wasn't too forgiving of the Pharisees, if at all.

I personally cannot forgive those that slandered my son and "marked" him without warning when he married an unbaptized publisher. They showed no remorse and took no actions to right the wrong. I don't think it makes me a bad person to be unforgiving. Sometimes you have to protect yourself from people who have no conscience.

Cathy L.

Country Girl

According to Jesus, we owe all forgiveness. I am not sure, entirely, what that entails, but it's a requirement. That doesn't mean that that person has no accountability, quite the contrary. However, as hard it's been for me to forgive, I still try to do that. For me to forgive is quite profound when I have been very very wronged.

CG

Tigerman

I know, in my heart, that I am alive now not because I forgave someone, but because I asked God to forgive this person.

Robert K Stock

Turning the other cheek is one of the many ideas where Jesus and Christianity are dead wrong. There is no obligation to forgive. If you have been wronged by another it is completely up to you to sort out your feelings. Let it go or hold a grudge to the grave. It is your call.

upside/down

I forgave and tried to forget my whole life and thought I did a pretty good job.

But after a Job-like episode in my life where back to back catastrophes finally broke me- I snapped. I actually felt so guilty that I could not forgive certain ones for certain specific crimes against ME. So I now take the same stand J does. If (and that's a big IF) everyone is this old world is doomed for being ignorant celebrating a birthday or saying "God bless you", than why the hell do I have to forgive JW's that fornicated with my wife, molested my kids and literally ruined my life and then ran me out on a rail?

I agree with the other posts, if they came and acknowledged what they've done and truly asked my forgiveness I know I'd give it, because that is the kind of person my "worldly" parents raised me to be- and I would want to do it (Golden Rule stuff). But till then F*CK 'em all! And if the bro who was boinkin my wife every wanted forgiveness I'd leave that one to the Maker. Maybe he can live on one side of the planet and me the other for a while. Kinda like David and Urriah, that'll be an interesting meeting huh?

u/d (of the why are my only enemies in this "system" JW's? class)

fairchild

We have all been victims of someone else's actions, and we have all been hurt by someone else's words. Betrayal by friends, family, or hurtful words spoken, without caring much about the consequences, it happens. I try to forgive people, even people I don't like. I try to walk that proverbial mile in their shoes. If we look into our own hearts, I'm sure we will all find something we are not proud of. Something we said or did that hurt another person. Something we would like to be forgiven for as well. Forgiving someone else doesn't seem to be hard for me, but I can't forgive myself for past mistakes.

Forgiveness, How Far Do You Take It?

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