GENUINE FORGIVENESS IS NOT HARMFUL
A teacher employed by a prominent theological seminary once warned that forgiveness in
managing relational conflicts could be very “harmful to your health!” If that is true, it is rea-
sonable to suppose that those who have employed forgiveness most faithfully were emotionally
damaged by their experiences. But were they really?
Take the example of Samuel in the Old Testament. After years of faithful service as Israel’s
prophet and judge, they wanted a king. God assured Samuel that “...they have not rejected thee,
but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Sam. 8:7). How did Samuel
respond to the Israelites? “Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in
ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way” (1 Sam. 12:23). How about the apostle Paul who was slandered by some who owed their salvation to his
preaching? He said, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more
abundantly I love you, the less I am loved” (1 Cor. 12:15). There is also the example of Jesus Christ--spat upon, scourged, abused and rejected as no
other has ever been. And yet from the cross He said, “Father, forgive them for they know not
what they do” (Luke 23:34). To be fair, maybe that teacher at that prestigious theological seminary intended to warn about
the suppression of anger. That is harmful and the prodigal son’s older brother is a good example
of such. Still, we must deal with the fact that the world’s most wholesome personalities have
lived and faithfully extended forgiveness to others.
The truth is that forgiveness in managing personal hurts can be harmful to you health--if your
normal tendency toward self-preservation has not been replaced by the deeper conviction of
security in God--if normal tendencies toward seeking justice and redress of grievances have not
been overruled by a stronger sense of mercy--if the drives of selfish ambition have not been re-
placed by love and satisfaction in serving--then most likely, any attempt to practice forgiveness
will result in brooding resentment.
The teachings of Jesus cannot be successfully adopted as a formula for living by folks whose
motivations, values and sense of security have not been transformed by His Word abiding in their
hearts. To serve, to minister happily while avoiding damage to the ego and a threat to our securi-
ty, we must rest in the knowledge are our lives are “truly hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). Only then can yielding result in victory and not defeat.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Kinds actions begin with kind thoughts.
Love ya,
Jesse
managing relational conflicts could be very “harmful to your health!” If that is true, it is rea-
sonable to suppose that those who have employed forgiveness most faithfully were emotionally
damaged by their experiences. But were they really?
Take the example of Samuel in the Old Testament. After years of faithful service as Israel’s
prophet and judge, they wanted a king. God assured Samuel that “...they have not rejected thee,
but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Sam. 8:7). How did Samuel
respond to the Israelites? “Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in
ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way” (1 Sam. 12:23). How about the apostle Paul who was slandered by some who owed their salvation to his
preaching? He said, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more
abundantly I love you, the less I am loved” (1 Cor. 12:15). There is also the example of Jesus Christ--spat upon, scourged, abused and rejected as no
other has ever been. And yet from the cross He said, “Father, forgive them for they know not
what they do” (Luke 23:34). To be fair, maybe that teacher at that prestigious theological seminary intended to warn about
the suppression of anger. That is harmful and the prodigal son’s older brother is a good example
of such. Still, we must deal with the fact that the world’s most wholesome personalities have
lived and faithfully extended forgiveness to others.
The truth is that forgiveness in managing personal hurts can be harmful to you health--if your
normal tendency toward self-preservation has not been replaced by the deeper conviction of
security in God--if normal tendencies toward seeking justice and redress of grievances have not
been overruled by a stronger sense of mercy--if the drives of selfish ambition have not been re-
placed by love and satisfaction in serving--then most likely, any attempt to practice forgiveness
will result in brooding resentment.
The teachings of Jesus cannot be successfully adopted as a formula for living by folks whose
motivations, values and sense of security have not been transformed by His Word abiding in their
hearts. To serve, to minister happily while avoiding damage to the ego and a threat to our securi-
ty, we must rest in the knowledge are our lives are “truly hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). Only then can yielding result in victory and not defeat.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Kinds actions begin with kind thoughts.
Love ya,
Jesse
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