Statement #8. There are times when it is wrong to forgive. TRUE.
(As mentioned on question #4, you can go to this blog to read the quotes of other pastors and theologians about whether or not forgiveness is conditional).
Some argue that it is never wrong to forgive. But this cannot be the case. As, I explain in Chapter 3, God does not forgive the unrepentant. It would be wrong for him to do so because it would go against his own justice and holiness.
Others counter that while there may be times when God does not forgive, people must always forgive. They insist that whenever a wrong is committed, regardless of whether or not the offender is repentant, Christians should “automatically” forgive the offender. But, this teaching is too simplistic. It encourages forgiveness so broadly that it diminishes the justice of God and compromises the integrity of true forgiveness. This is what Dennis Prager pointed out in a Wall Street Journal article:
The bodies of the three teen-age girls shot dead last December by a fellow student at Heath High School in West Paducah, Ky., were not yet cold before some of their schoolmates hung a sign announcing, “We forgive you, Mike!” They were referring to Michael Carneal, 14, the killer.
This immediate and automatic forgiveness is not surprising. Over the past generation, many Christians have adopted the idea that they should forgive everyone who commits evil against anyone, no matter how great and cruel and whether or not the evildoer repents.
The number of examples is almost as large as the number of heinous crimes. Last August, for instance, the preacher at a Martha’s Vineyard church service attended by the vacationing President Clinton announced that the duty of all Christians was to forgive Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber who murdered 168 Americans. “Can each of you look at a picture of Timothy McVeigh and forgive him?” the Rev. John Miller asked. “I have, and I invite you to do the same.”
Though I am a Jew, I believe that a vibrant Christianity is essential if America’s moral decline is to be reversed. And despite theological differences, Christianity and Judaism have served as the bedrock of American civilization. And I am appalled and frightened by this feel-good doctrine of automatic forgiveness.
This book will interact with Prager’s legitimate concern. It will present the beauty of God’s grace and the necessity of forgiveness. But it will also teach the reader that forgiveness must take place in a way that is consistent with justice. We must move beyond a “feel-good doctrine of automatic forgiveness.” Christians must always have a willingness to forgive or an attitude of forgiveness. But, this does not mean that forgiveness always takes place.
Chapters 11-12 focus entirely on this area. If you have been deeply hurt, and the other person is not sorry about it, read these chapters. If you wonder how Christians should respond to the Holocaust, 9/11, Columbine, Oklahoma City, Virginia Tech, or Rwanda, then read chapters 11-12.
in answer to why you say your willingness to forgive determines if you go to heaven, you imply if you do not forgive all wrongs, you will be denied entrance to heaven. But in the answer to whether there are times you should not forgive you say there are. How can it be both? I realize we are to forgive others because we have been forgiven. Thankfully, I have never been wronged so greatly I could not forgive. I believe, though, that when we are forgiven and saved to heaven, it is a done deal. We are to live for Christ and to repent. But if I die and have not forgiven a person, I do not believe God will condemn me to hell. 1 John 1:9. I have not read your book, came across your blog and took test. Thanks for blog on Casey Anthony, it was soothing for me. God bless.
Sheri, that’s a great question on your part. Christians are called to always be gracious, always to have an attitude of forgiveness. But forgiveness takes place in its fullest sense when the other person is repentant and the relationship is restored.
The person who is unwilling to forgive may betray the position of the unforgiving servant in Matt 18:21-35. That person should question whether or not he or she is regenerate because it is characteristic of the forgiven that they are willing to forgive.
Quacking doesn’t make you a duck, but ducks quack. Forgiving doesn’t make you a Christian, but Christians are willing to forgive.
Does that make sense?
I beg to differ that humans may not forgive. From my understanding in Matthew, Jesus says forgive or your Father in heaven will not forgive you of your trespasses, I don’t see it qualified to mean that only when the offender is repentant it just says forgive period. Again God says vengeance is His are you then saying to hold on to unfirgiveness? How can u write a book on forgiveness and propose to us not to forgive others regardless, on this one I totally disagree, God is looking at our willingness to forgive not on the willingness of others to forgive.
Hi i also disagree Chris. Forgivness is your personal choice and can happen instantly. Restoration tho is a process involving two parties. The testimonies of people that have forgiven unrepentant people, and ttheunrepentant melting at that love shown and then becoming repentant are numerous. Also Jesus said on the cross “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” A blind pharisee or sinner doesnt even know what he is doing most of the time! I know i didnt until i came undera deep sense of conviction of m y own sin. Take this story for example. And old bishop had a criminal who had just been released from jail and was hungry and homeless had him come and eat with him at his house( details might be a bit off but the general story will be right ) . They enjoyed a meal together and he invited him to stay the night. When the bishop had gone to bed the thief stole a bunch of his gold and silverware from his house and ran for it. The bishop must have heard what was going on. As he ran the police caught up with him and were questioning him as to how he had aquired them. Just then the bishop found the man with the police and said “wait, wait! You forgot these”, holding more gold cups in his hands. The thief melted and came to know Jesus Christ if i remember correctly. If the bishop had of held that against him until he was repentant he would probly would have perished without Christ! U see? And yes this is a feel good doctrine! You do feel good forgiving people. And you feel terrible when u hold grudges infact your handed over to the tortueres spiritually speaking if my bible knowledge is correct! When its your christian brother u need to sort it out tho. Im still a new believer but ive read my fsir share of great testimonies. Like brother Yun in China. They were beaten nearly everyday for the sake of the gospel. He could have let bitterness overule him and he said it was tuff but when he had truly forgiven them he was able to be at peace again. In the jails where he was alot of people were converted to Christ. Some the worst of sinners and he was not the only one he just was one that told his story. As i said before the details of the testimonoes may not be 100 percent truth but just going on what i remember. Forgive others,just as in Christ God forgave you. Cheers may the grace of Jesus be with u.
Justin, Thanks for weighing in and for stopping by.
I totally see that in certain cases forgiveness is wrong. I have been quite pleased with the write up but still concerned with the debate. Christ revealed the significance of forgiveness given by Matthew 6 but has the credential procedure for forgiveness recorded through Luke 17 v’s 3&4.
If someone told me the need to go on foot every day to work so as to environmentally save the earth, thereby also saving myself when being on the earth, should i then think that’s me and the earth sorted as an environmental point of view?
I believe we should look to God for the appropriateness of forgiveness. Jesus forgave those who were crucifying him while the were killing him. Stephen did the same. The killers were hardly showing repentance. But Jesus also makes clear that many will be held accountable for their actions.
http://chrisbrauns.com/2008/02/didnt-jesus-forgive-unconditionally-on-the-cross/
Hi Chris, I was just pointed to this article / quiz by a friend, as I, too am writing on forgiveness, and how it has been emphasized and mis-applied. So I see where you’re coming from here. I have not read your book as yet.
I see that most people only point out a few scriptures that agree with them, but there are many (as you know) that are quite the opposite. For example: Mat 12:32
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
Another one that I studied out was John 20:21-23, and we have to read the synopsis of ALL gospel accounts in order to see the full picture Jesus was painting.
“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Jesus delegated the forgiving of sins to us, be it to release, or retain said forgiveness. Which is inline with what Paul did in 1 Cor to the unrepentant brother, he handed him over to satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that he could be saved. But in 2 Cor 2, it looks like he did repent, and there was steps to restore him.
I have found there are 4 levels of forgiveness as they relate to the 4 levels of authority found in the New Testament, and they each follow a distinct pattern too.
1) God forgives us (because we repent)
2) We extend that forgiveness to others (as they hear the message and repent)
3) God with holds forgiveness towards us (blaspheme against the Holy Spirit)
4) We can withhold forgiveness (by retaining their sin – John 20:23)
The same patterns are true for “bind & loose”, it follows “forgive / retain”.
Most people only look to the gospels on what happens, but they forget the rest of the New Testament. There is also another pattern that we find. Matt points this out, and it is a downward spiral of “Not Hearing” when you go to confront the brother who has sinned against you. BUT they are all CONDITIONAL!! Since they contain the word “IF”.
1) “IF” he hears you (you have won your brother.
2) “IF” he DOES not hear you
3) “IF” he REFUSES to hear you.
Then, we are to cut them off. Paul did this in the example I gave above.
We also see that the testimony of the martyrs changed from the gospels from”Father forgive them, as they know NOT what they do”, to Revelation’s martyrs “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” So, in the gospels, it’s centered around mercy, while in revelation it centers around justice. Which are representing both the Lamb and the Lion.
Then, also in revelation, it is also dependent on the 7 churches to “HEAR” and repent for their works that they are doing, or they lose their ability to have a hearing ear, and the blessings that come along with that, if they don’t repent. And especially Thyatira, where the issue is “tolerance” of Jezebel….it is also interesting that the same word for tolerance has the same root as forgiveness, they are quite similar…so you could say “I have this against you because you FORGIVE Jezebel..” And the consequence of forgiving Jezebel, is quite dire…”I will kill their children with death”, is quite sobering.
I will leave it there for now, as it is a vast topic.
Bless ya, Chris, my study of this has been quite eye opening, and those who have heard this message are not as quite to forgive as they once did.