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Discussion » Statements » Rosie's Corner » Christians make a BIG DEAL out of forgiveness. How does that work exactly? Do they forgive for what is done to them as well as to others?
RosieG

Christians make a BIG DEAL out of forgiveness. How does that work exactly? Do they forgive for what is done to them as well as to others?

Do Christians go outside the lines to forgive Nazis for the holocaust that cost 6 millions lives of JEWISH people?

Are they limited to forgive the bad done to them personally or is their job to forgive everyone for everything no matter what everywhere all the time before, now and tomorrow?

It's never been clear to me exactly what is necessary to be a GOOD TRUE CHRISTIAN.

If you know wanna share or are you as confused about it as I am after the FOOTOO debacle with the loving support of so many christians who adoringly worship him. Mixed messaging.

Posted - May 14, 2021
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Responses


  • 6023
    That reminds me of a debate I had back in high school.
    I can't remember why, but the teacher started a discussion about crime - particularly murder.
    If the family of the victim forgives the killer, should the state punish the criminal?

    A couple people answered that it was Christian to forgive others.
    I responded that you can't forgive someone for harming someone else.  That would imply the person who was harmed was your property.
    You can forgive the criminal for the mental/physical harm YOU suffered as a result of their crime - but you don't have the right to forgive what they did to someone else.

    So, to address your example - no, Christians are not entitled to forgive the NAZIs for the millions of people they tortured and murdered.
    Even an individual who was tortured by the NAZIs has no authority to forgive all the other cases of torture.
      May 14, 2021 7:48 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    Thank you for your thoughtful helpful informative reply to my question and also thank you for taking it seriously. I am deadly serious about this and I guess you guessed it. I honestly think this "forgiveness" schtick weakens people who rely on it and pull it out at every opportunity when their words and deeds are precisely the opposite. Forgive anyone for anything at any time no matter what. Be a good Christian. Doesn't doing that facilitate more of the same? They think "no matter what I do A Christian is gonna forgive me so let the good times roll!" Sheesh. SIGH. So the good little Christians who adore FOOTOO foregive all the bad people do. Forgiveness is part of who they are you see and unfortunately they fail to see the irony and how absurd they are to the rest of us. Am I a Christian. Yes but not THAT kind. The PHONY kind. The FAKE kind. Who mouths such wondrous things in THEORY and in practice doing and supporting the opposite and sees no problem with that. I have a problem with that. Do you forgive Walt? I know it's a personal thing and don't reply to if you think it's too pushy. I appreciate the reply very bigly! :) This post was edited by RosieG at May 14, 2021 7:57 AM MDT
      May 14, 2021 7:55 AM MDT
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  • 6023
    I may forgive - but I don't forget.

    In other words, I may forgive them and not hold a grudge ... but I'm not going to trust them again, in a similar situation.
      May 14, 2021 8:00 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    I don't grudge either. Nor do I revenge retaliate or vendetta. I never forget. As for forgiveness I doubt that I have it in me to be honest with you. I don't pretend to be what I'm not. I think it's fine if you can forgive. I don't see how it's possible but I'm limitd to being stuck with me and my brain and how I think about things. Thank you for extended discussion. It always helps to be able to ask and get answers. Some folks just hipshot for a point and you never see them agaih. Whatever! Anyway I do appreciate your hanging in. Vis a vis the ransome stuff I guess it goes on all the time and companies just pay it. Cost of doing business! Sheesh.
      May 14, 2021 8:16 AM MDT
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  • 10664
    Christians make a big deal out of forgiveness because they know what it's like to receive unmerited forgiveness - forgiveness for rebelling against Almighty God (a crime punishable by death), forgiveness for murdering God's Son (a crime that's punishment is beyond death); forgiveness for all their sins (their slate wiped clean).

    Forgiving doesn't mean one condones the grievous act done against them, nor does it mean forgetting that it ever happened.
      May 14, 2021 10:13 AM MDT
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