The Unforgivable Sin

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The contention in the beginning of that article that every other religion in the world operates on a brownie-point system for getting to Heaven is incorrect. Some people would say the Church operates on a brownie-point system because of how much we talk about doing good works, but that wouldn’t be a fully accurate picture. I am displeased with the tone of the author in that article.
 
Imho, the only unforgivable sin would be persistence in rejecting Christ.
 
Good Morning grateful child,

From the article:

“It would be heresy to suggest that a human being could commit a sin so horrible that even God couldn’t forgive it. It would be contrary to Christianity to suggest that God was unwilling or incapable of supplying us with what’s needed for salvation.”

Although I would not use the word “heresy”, I agree with the “bottom line” excerpt that I pasted above. However, I see why you are posting this question, because the article goes back and forth on the issue. Also, the parable of the “lazy servant” may be misplaced in the article, because there are many who believe that the “lazy servant” was supposed to be shown as the good example in the story, not the master, who was depicted as a cruel person.
 
OneSheep said:
Good Morning grateful child,

From the article:

“It would be heresy to suggest that a human being could commit a sin so horrible that even God couldn’t forgive it. It would be contrary to Christianity to suggest that God was unwilling or incapable of supplying us with what’s needed for salvation.”

Although I would not use the word “heresy”, I agree with the “bottom line” excerpt that I pasted above. However, I see why you are posting this question, because the article goes back and forth on the issue. Also, the parable of the “lazy servant” may be misplaced in the article, because there are many who believe that the “lazy servant” was supposed to be shown as the good example in the story, not the master, who was depicted as a cruel person.
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GOD can forgive any sin IF one is repentant and therefore imho the only unforgivable sin is PERSISTENCE (STEADFASTNESS) in REJECTING Christ!
 
grateful_child said:
What is the unforgivable sin that the Lord warned us about?
(from NCRegister, by A. Stagnaro, Nov. 29, 2016)

ncregister.com/blog/astagnaro/what-is-the-unforgivable-sin-that-our-lord-warned-us-about
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I have only read the first half of the article. Appointments call. I am getting the idea that intellective free choice, which is essential, goes both ways in the current relationship between humanity and Divinity.

There may be a serious problem with the word unforgivable because meaning or direction can change over time. For example. Unforgiveable may not refer to the Person of God, but rather to the result of a human person’s deliberate rational free will choice of action, physical or mental.

I look forward to finish reading both a very interesting article and the following CAF comments.
🍿
 
Herculees said:
GOD can forgive any sin IF one is repentant and therefore imho the only unforgivable sin is PERSISTENCE (STEADFASTNESS) in REJECTING Christ!
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So here was the excerpt:

“It would be heresy to suggest that a human being could commit a sin so horrible that even God couldn’t forgive it. It would be contrary to Christianity to suggest that God was unwilling or incapable of supplying us with what’s needed for salvation.”

Are you suggesting that God is unwilling to forgive a person who is persistent in rejecting Christ or is unrepentant?

If you are suggesting this, there is Gospel support for what you are saying, but there is also Gospel support for the quote from the article. To repeat, though, I would not use the word “heresy”.
 
I always find it interesting that WE have to ask for forgiveness from God but WE have to forgive others EVEN when they do not ask for it. That doesn’t seem fair.
 
Fair is getting what we need, not what we want or deserve.
It’s fair in that it frees us from the burden of resentment, which can weigh a person down so far they can’t act charitably anymore.
We’re responsible for ourselves, not others. We are to let things go after we have truly forgiven. Very hard to do? Yes. But well worth it in the long run.
 
Blessedwithfive said:
I always find it interesting that WE have to ask for forgiveness from God but WE have to forgive others EVEN when they do not ask for it. That doesn’t seem fair.
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The Person of God is different from the human person. Nor is joy eternal on this earth.
 
Blessedwithfive said:
I always find it interesting that WE have to ask for forgiveness from God but WE have to forgive others EVEN when they do not ask for it. That doesn’t seem fair.
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Yeah! Who do We think We are!

Seriously we are merely God’s creation and rely on Him for life and for holding us in existence. We have to approach Him in humility and obedience. He is the great “I AM” and we are the un-great “We are not” . The act of forgiveness is more for our benefit than it is for the ones we are forgiving. Its not important that they be remorseful or even want forgiveness. We are the ones obeying God’s command to forgive and when we do we reap the benefits of grace.
 
Blessedwithfive said:
I always find it interesting that WE have to ask for forgiveness from God but WE have to forgive others EVEN when they do not ask for it. That doesn’t seem fair.
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Whew! Lots of comments on this. I’ll weigh in, a little.

Yes, it does not seem fair. What’s more, perhaps it does not seem merciful.

As a guide, the Linns of Linn Ministries say that we can fall back on “God loves us at least as much as the person who loves us most”. If the person who loves us most forgives us without our even asking, then that might be a good guide. OTOH, what is my relationship like with someone if I hurt them or trespass against them without feeling sorry about it, without asking for forgiveness when such helps with the realization of reconciliation and genuine relationship?

So, the way I look at it is that Jesus is not saying “If you don’t ask the Father for forgiveness, He won’t forgive you.”, we can look to the image of the prodigal son’s Father. What He is saying is more like (IMHO) “If you don’t ask God for forgiveness, reconciliation is incomplete. Relationship involves some action from both parties.” Again, we can use the parable of the prodigal son as a guide.

Does that make it all seem more “fair”, or more confusing?
 
OneSheep said:
Whew! Lots of comments on this. I’ll weigh in, a little.

Yes, it does not seem fair. What’s more, perhaps it does not seem merciful.

As a guide, the Linns of Linn Ministries say that we can fall back on “God loves us at least as much as the person who loves us most”. If the person who loves us most forgives us without our even asking, then that might be a good guide. OTOH, what is my relationship like with someone if I hurt them or trespass against them without feeling sorry about it, without asking for forgiveness when such helps with the realization of reconciliation and genuine relationship?

So, the way I look at it is that Jesus is not saying “If you don’t ask the Father for forgiveness, He won’t forgive you.”, we can look to the image of the prodigal son’s Father. What He is saying is more like (IMHO) “If you don’t ask God for forgiveness, reconciliation is incomplete. Relationship involves some action from both parties.” Again, we can use the parable of the prodigal son as a guide.

Does that make it all seem more “fair”, or more confusing?
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i agree that both parties SHOULD be involved in reconciliation but I have been told that I MUST forgive those who have wronged us even if they do not seek or want forgiveness. And if i don’t forgive them then I can’t be forgiven.

In my mind, I am being held to a higher standard than God, as God only forgives us if we seek and ask for it…

And I know, He makes the rules…we play the game…
 
Blessedwithfive said:
i agree that both parties SHOULD be involved in reconciliation but I have been told that I MUST forgive those who have wronged us even if they do not seek or want forgiveness. And if i don’t forgive them then I can’t be forgiven.

In my mind, I am being held to a higher standard than God, as God only forgives us if we seek and ask for it…

And I know, He makes the rules…we play the game…
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This is a very important point you are making, Blessed. I am seeing that you are at a junction, at a door, at a point of resolving something deep within.

Would you, on your own, forgive someone who does not seek or want forgiveness without the pressure of the “higher standard”?

BTW: As far as that both parties “SHOULD” be involved in reconciiation, the “should” is superfluous. At the root of the word “reconciliation” is the word “cilia” which means “eyelash”. Reconciliation is a seeing eye-to-eye or eyelash-to-eyelash. If one party’s eyelashes are dropped, there is no reconciliation. It’s just a simple fact, reconciliation means two separate parties seeing eye to eye, if one party is not involved, it doesn’t happen.

God Bless your day!
 
OneSheep said:
This is a very important point you are making, Blessed. I am seeing that you are at a junction, at a door, at a point of resolving something deep within.

Would you, on your own, forgive someone who does not seek or want forgiveness without the pressure of the “higher standard”?

BTW: As far as that both parties “SHOULD” be involved in reconciiation, the “should” is superfluous. At the root of the word “reconciliation” is the word “cilia” which means “eyelash”. Reconciliation is a seeing eye-to-eye or eyelash-to-eyelash. If one party’s eyelashes are dropped, there is no reconciliation. It’s just a simple fact, reconciliation means two separate parties seeing eye to eye, if one party is not involved, it doesn’t happen.

God Bless your day!
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No, I don’t think I would. I firmly believe that actions have consequences. And the consequences help a person not to commit the action again. And sometimes people need to be told they are wrong…unfortunately, I am the one who was told they are wrong and I didn’t do anything “wrong” except choose not to associate with that person…and i kinda was uncharitable…but only as a reaction to their behavior.
It is bothering me. I know I have to pray for them, but it is really very difficult.
 
Blessedwithfive said:
i agree that both parties SHOULD be involved in reconciliation but I have been told that I MUST forgive those who have wronged us even if they do not seek or want forgiveness. And if i don’t forgive them then I can’t be forgiven.

In my mind, I am being held to a higher standard than God, as God only forgives us if we seek and ask for it…

And I know, He makes the rules…we play the game…
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God happens to be your Divine Creator Who gave you the opportunity to share in His Divine Life. (Genesis 1: 27) If you do not want to share in God’s life in joy eternal, you are free to scorn him like Adam did.

My guess is that the best thing to do is to actually describe God’s actual forgives action.
 
Blessedwithfive said:
i agree that both parties SHOULD be involved in reconciliation but I have been told that I MUST forgive those who have wronged us even if they do not seek or want forgiveness. And if i don’t forgive them then I can’t be forgiven.

In my mind, I am being held to a higher standard than God, as God only forgives us if we seek and ask for it…

And I know, He makes the rules…we play the game…
Click to expand...
God is our Divine Creator Who gives us the opportunity to share in His Divine Life. (Genesis 1: 27)
If one does not want to share in God’s life, that person is free to scorn God like Adam did. If one wishes to be with God in joy eternal, then one needs to examine the purpose of having free will. (CCC 1730-1732; CCC 396)

My guess is that the best thing anyone can do is to actually describe
God’s actual forgives action.
The human person is worthy of profound respect.
 
Blessedwithfive said:
I always find it interesting that WE have to ask for forgiveness from God but WE have to forgive others EVEN when they do not ask for it. That doesn’t seem fair.
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I’ve actually heard one thing about the fairness thing at a Church Mission.

Let’s say you have John and John has committed a big sin, he comes to Confession and is saying “God, I committed this sin. Have fairness on me.” Will you be seeing John anymore?

God is merciful, not fair. We’re celebrating the Jubilee Year of Mercy, not Fairness.
 
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