Monday, February 28, 2005
Forgiveness
Jollyblogger started it, then added to it. Eternal Perspectives put in some good words, and Transforming Sermons added his perspective -- All about Forgiveness. A long time ago, in a place far away, and never read, I also had something to say on the subject.
The relationship between forgiveness and repentance is one of the most difficult issues I have run into in theological discussion. I think the discussion has been greatly complicated in recent years as psychology has taken a larger and larger role in Christian thinking, particularly when it comes to how unhealthy it is to hold and nurture a grudge.
Eternal Perspectives and I both draw a distinction between letting go of the grudge and restoring relationships. EP says it is two different kinds of forgiveness, I try use the language of the previous sentence.
There are a couple of things that I think would really help here. The first is some more clear headed Christian ethical thinking. Face it, someone being rude to you at the grocery store, as a practical matter (but not a theological one) is not worth getting worked up about. Murdering your sister is; however, a different story. Christianity has largely abandoned ethics, and people therefore exaggerate small slights and degrade huge crimes -- that fact hugely complicates this discussion.
Secondly, I think we need some new vocabulary. Something in which the distinction that EP and I make is apparent. We should "let go" of the harms done to us, especially the "little" ones -- that is healthy. However, it is simply foolish to retore a relationship with someone that has done you grevious harm without repentance on thier part.
The relationship between forgiveness and repentance is one of the most difficult issues I have run into in theological discussion. I think the discussion has been greatly complicated in recent years as psychology has taken a larger and larger role in Christian thinking, particularly when it comes to how unhealthy it is to hold and nurture a grudge.
Eternal Perspectives and I both draw a distinction between letting go of the grudge and restoring relationships. EP says it is two different kinds of forgiveness, I try use the language of the previous sentence.
There are a couple of things that I think would really help here. The first is some more clear headed Christian ethical thinking. Face it, someone being rude to you at the grocery store, as a practical matter (but not a theological one) is not worth getting worked up about. Murdering your sister is; however, a different story. Christianity has largely abandoned ethics, and people therefore exaggerate small slights and degrade huge crimes -- that fact hugely complicates this discussion.
Secondly, I think we need some new vocabulary. Something in which the distinction that EP and I make is apparent. We should "let go" of the harms done to us, especially the "little" ones -- that is healthy. However, it is simply foolish to retore a relationship with someone that has done you grevious harm without repentance on thier part.
