Anger?

[shoe]

If that “strong feeling” is a form of anger, or anger itself, then it indicates not a serious character flaw (?) but a failure to know that God is just and that His reponses are unfailing. After all, the majority of these “sinful things” (in reality, ‘a thing’ is not sinful) come to our awareness after the sinner has been called to justice. I personally think it is not a good idea to hold onto to unforgiveness and label forgiveness a ‘character flaw’ if justice is adequate to remedy the sinned against. If God forgives, really we should too.

:thumbsup:Yes, forgiveness is not a “character flaw” at all. If God has forgiven someone, then we should also forgive that person. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:32: “And be ye kind one to another; merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.” If we fail to forgive the people that God already has forgiven, then in reality what we are saying is that we hold to a higher standard of forgiveness than God does.

 

[JRKH]

:thumbsup:Yes, forgiveness is not a “character flaw” at all. If God has forgiven someone, then we should also forgive that person. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:32: “And be ye kind one to another; merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.” If we fail to forgive the people that God already has forgiven, then in reality what we are saying is that we hold to a higher standard of forgiveness than God does.

One comment though…
Your conclusion that we must forgive those who God has forgiven might be misleading. We cannot always know who God has forgiven…Except in the sense that through the passion and resurrection, everyone is forgiven (If they repent and accept that forgiveness)

The verse quoted actually says that we are to forgive “as God hath forgiven (us)”…There is no qualifier on whether the one we forgive has been forgiven by God.
See also the Lord’s prayer where our forgiveness is tied to our forgiving others - not to the others worthiness to be forgiven.

Peace
James

 

[Michael19682]

One comment though…
Your conclusion that we must forgive those who God has forgiven might be misleading. We cannot always know who God has forgiven…Except in the sense that through the passion and resurrection, everyone is forgiven (If they repent and accept that forgiveness)

The verse quoted actually says that we are to forgive “as God hath forgiven (us)”…There is no qualifier on whether the one we forgive has been forgiven by God.
See also the Lord’s prayer where our forgiveness is tied to our forgiving others - not to the others worthiness to be forgiven.

Peace
James

Thank You, James

Most everything you say is really on mark and exactly the way I believe also. It’s just that I feel inwardly compelled to say that forgiveness is absolute, in my opinion. In parenthesis you say: (if they repent and accept forgiveness). Such is, I believe, a slightly different view of the sacraments that I was taught. “A visible sign of God’s invisible Grace.” Really, Reconciliation let’s us know with a visible sign that God has forgiven. Really, as the first part of your statement shows me, God has long since forgiven. It is our wholeness, the accepting of God’s gift, that depends on us. God doesn’t “take back” his forgiveness. I dare say that even the people in Hell are forgiven. We can’t “un-will” the cross by our refusal to accept God’s forgiveness.

It’s people, like us, who regret that we have forgiven someone who in turn becomes a real traitor, that then “take back” our forgiveness and think God is the same way…or that we can’t sustain forgiveness as a “character trait” unless we get some help from all those multitudes we are forgiving all day long. That’s why we pray forgiveness everyday. It’s to keep us like God, who is faithful. It helps manage our anger also.

 

[JRKH]

Thank You, James

Most everything you say is really on mark and exactly the way I believe also. It’s just that I feel inwardly compelled to say that forgiveness is absolute, in my opinion. In parenthesis you say: (if they repent and accept forgiveness). Such is, I believe, a slightly different view of the sacraments that I was taught. “A visible sign of God’s invisible Grace.” Really, Reconciliation let’s us know with a visible sign that God has forgiven. Really, as the first part of your statement shows me, God has long since forgiven. It is our wholeness, the accepting of God’s gift, that depends on us. God doesn’t “take back” his forgiveness. I dare say that even the people in Hell are forgiven. We can’t “un-will” the cross by our refusal to accept God’s forgiveness.

It’s people, like us, who regret that we have forgiven someone who in turn becomes a real traitor, that then “take back” our forgiveness and think God is the same way…or that we can’t sustain forgiveness as a “character trait” unless we get some help from all those multitudes we are forgiving all day long. That’s why we pray forgiveness everyday. It’s to keep us like God, who is faithful. It helps manage our anger also.

You are quite correct - what I had written in the parenthesis is not as accurate as saying that God has forgiven - and now it is up to us to accept that forgiveness and to act accordingly.

Peace
James