Comments on: So why not let’s forgive everyone?

By: Father’s Day & Forgiveness :: a broken mold

Father’s Day & Forgiveness :: a broken mold — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 05:41:47 +0000

[…] why not let’s forgive everyone?” detailing most of my argument, and that can be read here. I’ll quote myself in excerpt: …we are told to forgive as we’ve been forgiven, or […]

By: Nathaniel Robertson

Nathaniel Robertson — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 19:37:08 +0000

The irony when latent Christianity is better than Christianity in name…

By: Matthew Hurley

Matthew Hurley — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:39:56 +0000

Caleb,

As to your first objection, I think we’re back to the above-mentioned distinction between reconciliation and forgiveness, or, if you like, between forgiveness and readiness to forgive. I’m not saying sin should be forgotten before he asks for it; there’s still a longing for reconciliation on your part. But you should pursue this because you love your brother, and not—as I think the danger is if you withhold forgiveness—turn it into a root of bitterness. Oh, and I don’t think it is necessary to tell people you forgive them when they’re not looking for it. That’s a smug, self-satisfied way to tick them off and you should know it.

On, then, to non-believers. How does Christ love non-believers? He certainly loves them before they love him. He certainly died for them while they were still sinners. To your second objection, along with that, I would add that we are not God. We, like God, should not be willing that any should perish. And we should also hate God’s enemies—but we don’t have omniscient knowledge of who is to be won lovingly into God’s people, and who is on all accounts to be fought to the gates of hell. And I don’t think we’re given that right or responsibility; we should bless those who curse us and do good to those who hate us. Therein lie the burning coals.

It follows that a good way to demonstrate Christ’s love is NOT being close-fisted with our love and forgiveness. And of course I realize that “forgiveness” here cannot be the same sort as between believers, in the sense that they are not in fellowship with God, and they should know it. But they will know it more by seeing the love they are missing (John 13:35, anyone?) than by having their suspicions confirmed that Christians are ignorant and hateful, not even extending what, in the non-believing community, is just common courtesy.

By: Caleb Blume

Caleb Blume — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 17:06:47 +0000

Ah, yes, a concept very well debated in the Christian world. Should we forgive those whom Christ has not forgiven? Hmm, I actually have some points of contention with you, and I hope this will be beneficial to both of us.
First off, are we to forgive the non-repentant? I think, among brothers in faith, one should be willing to take the wrong (even if they were right) in order to ask for forgiveness. But if I came up to him and said, “Oh, by the way, I forgive you,” he would only take further offense. We are not to hold past sins against others, but that is different than forgiveness. Forgiveness holds a forget aspect. Once a sin is forgiven, it is forgotten. If I forgave one of his sins before he asked for it, this would be a remembrance, not a forgetting.
Now on to non-believers. We are to be civil with all man, loving them as Christ loves them. Christ loves them… and also hates them. How do we hate and still wish the best on them? Wishing that they will come to Christ and to become a brother. Discretion is the better part of valor. The only argument of theology one should have with an atheist is one trying to bring them into the fold of Christ. If one tries to say what God is, tell them that they don’t even know Him, so how can they speak on His behalf? Ours is not to question why, but merely to speak Truth and hope God changes their heart.