Forgivness, how far do we go?

[Ian Gentles]

I kinda raise this subject tongue in cheek, so be gentle with me.

Since London Bombings, a lady ninister left pastoral ministry, now working with youth, as she felt she could not preach forgivness, as her daughter was killed in bombings. Now i stood besides one young ladies body at that location, trust me forgivness would be hard.

I think reality for folks is, can they find peace to leave things to God? Maybe we cant forgive, but we need to leave things with God!

Do Jews forgive Hitler?. Corrie ten Boom led Germans to Christ after being in a concentration camp, in which her sister died!

I have heard in two occasions sermones on forgivness hinting lady mentioned who lost her daughter was somehow lacking, as forgivness is needed. I totaly disagree, folks need to step back and let God.

Does what I am saying make sense?

So, dealing with us mortals, how does God expect us to forgive, in what way?

[Cam Pence]

i believe forgiveness is freeing. i think it is important to look at the idea of forgiveness and reconciliation separately. while i believe the good news of the gospel is powerful enough for both, separating them makes it possible for us to focus on what forgiveness really is. we can get away from the idea that it is strictly forgiving and becoming best friends and going out all the time for coffee, ect. a great analogy i have heard is that withholding forgiveness is a lot like drinking poison hoping it will kill whoever you cannot forgive. when we withhold forgiveness, we decide we would rather shoulder the burden with a false sense that some kind of retribution will set us free when really it is forgiveness itself that will set us free. when we forgive we are giving up whatever grudge holds us captive. now of course i know that this is not easy and i certainly cannot imagine the pain that this woman must be going through. the only thing i would say she is "lacking" is the freedom that forgiveness brings. a great movie i just saw that illustrates this point well is one that just came out called "five minutes of heaven".

[Ian Gentles]

i believe forgiveness is freeing. i think it is important to look at the idea of forgiveness and reconciliation separately. while i believe the good news of the gospel is powerful enough for both, separating them makes it possible for us to focus on what forgiveness really is. we can get away from the idea that it is strictly forgiving and becoming best friends and going out all the time for coffee, ect. a great analogy i have heard is that withholding forgiveness is a lot like drinking poison hoping it will kill whoever you cannot forgive. when we withhold forgiveness, we decide we would rather shoulder the burden with a false sense that some kind of retribution will set us free when really it is forgiveness itself that will set us free. when we forgive we are giving up whatever grudge holds us captive. now of course i know that this is not easy and i certainly cannot imagine the pain that this woman must be going through. the only thing i would say she is "lacking" is the freedom that forgiveness brings. a great movie i just saw that illustrates this point well is one that just came out called "five minutes of heaven".

Kinda near my thinking, as judgment and forgivnes, is God's. We deal with the pain, with God's help, God just wants us to be free.