This is a dilemma Christians (and good people in general) often face -- how to forgive, yet still preserving justice? To forgive one's trespasser is to walk in Christ for that offense; but it gets morally less clear if in one's forgiveness it leads to further offenses against others. In this respect, it seems easier to be God than to be man. All offenses we commit against one another we commit against God, but He allows our free will to hurt one another without apparent consequence or interference. Although God's forgiveness is the ultimate gift of love, it mostly does not prevent our suffering at the hands of others. He left it up to us to devise an earthly justice system based on the moral conscience we were given, therefore it is our godly responsibility to recognize and stop evil whenever possible.
When Jesus Christ died on the cross, it is the crucible where God's justice (horizontal beam) and love (vertical beam) perfectly integrated and gloriously manifested. How is it justice without punishment, and where is the love if there is no forgiveness? He answered both and sanctified us with the sacrifice of His body, justification in his suffering, and love in his willing...yet all the power to grant us eternal life cannot be for an unbeliever. In that regard, He sets a principle we can follow.
Forgiveness only has redeeming value if sought and answered; although a forgiving heart is liberating and glorifies God, it becomes complete and even transformational when given in love and received in gratitude. In that, just as God sees our sins no more, neither should we see our trespasser's. Only then is he deserving of no punishment, and a chance to repent of his old ways. Short of that, it remains our moral duty to protect innocent sheep from wolves.
Unaccountable forgiveness, like free money, only leads to moral decay and more sin. The die-hard pacifists against all wars and capital punishment misinterpret and misrepresent the concept of moral forgiveness. Culturally, they undermine ethical standards; socially, they take away personal responsibility; politically, their idea of forgiveness and tolerance often lead to untold death and suffering by unrepentant evil.
You are too hard on yourself, Carol. I talk a good talk, but fall short just as much as the next person. If Christ's death on the cross was to keep us from sinning, then He had failed miserably. Jesus died to wash away our sin yesterday, today and tomorrow that we will commit as surely as the day is long. But as His love is the hand that gives mercy, it is the palms of our faith that receive, reaching out only when there is repentance, which if of the mind will need to be repeated, but if of the heart once is sufficient for all times.
Lastly, He loves not just everyone...He loves YOU especially and faithfully!
God bless!
James
When Jesus Christ died on the cross, it is the crucible where God's justice (horizontal beam) and love (vertical beam) perfectly integrated and gloriously manifested. How is it justice without punishment, and where is the love if there is no forgiveness? He answered both and sanctified us with the sacrifice of His body, justification in his suffering, and love in his willing...yet all the power to grant us eternal life cannot be for an unbeliever. In that regard, He sets a principle we can follow.
Forgiveness only has redeeming value if sought and answered; although a forgiving heart is liberating and glorifies God, it becomes complete and even transformational when given in love and received in gratitude. In that, just as God sees our sins no more, neither should we see our trespasser's. Only then is he deserving of no punishment, and a chance to repent of his old ways. Short of that, it remains our moral duty to protect innocent sheep from wolves.
Unaccountable forgiveness, like free money, only leads to moral decay and more sin. The die-hard pacifists against all wars and capital punishment misinterpret and misrepresent the concept of moral forgiveness. Culturally, they undermine ethical standards; socially, they take away personal responsibility; politically, their idea of forgiveness and tolerance often lead to untold death and suffering by unrepentant evil.
You are too hard on yourself, Carol. I talk a good talk, but fall short just as much as the next person. If Christ's death on the cross was to keep us from sinning, then He had failed miserably. Jesus died to wash away our sin yesterday, today and tomorrow that we will commit as surely as the day is long. But as His love is the hand that gives mercy, it is the palms of our faith that receive, reaching out only when there is repentance, which if of the mind will need to be repeated, but if of the heart once is sufficient for all times.
Lastly, He loves not just everyone...He loves YOU especially and faithfully!
God bless!
James
