Posted on 01/05/2011 8:45:35 AM PST by Gamecock
This story told by my friend and former professor, Steve Brown, illustrates well the radical discrepancy between the ways in which we hold other people hostage in their sin and the unconditional forgiveness that God offers to us in Christ.
Do you remember the story about the little boy who killed his grandmother’s pet duck? He accidentally hit the duck with a rock from his slingshot. The boy didn’t think anybody saw the foul deed, so he buried the duck in the backyard and didn’t tell a soul.
Later, the boy found out that his sister had seen it all. Not only that, she now had the leverage of his secret and used it. Whenever it was the sister’s turn to wash the dishes, take out the garbage or wash the car, she would whisper in his ear, “Remember the duck.” And then the little boy would do what his sister should have done.
There is always a limit to that sort of thing. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore–he’d had it! The boy went to his grandmother and, with great fear, confessed what he had done. To his surprise, she hugged him and thanked him. She said, “I was standing at the kitchen sink and saw the whole thing. I forgave you then. I was just wondering when you were going to get tired of your sister’s blackmail and come to me.”
If he already saw and forgave you, don’t let anybody say to you, “Remember the duck.”
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:19, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.” The good news of the gospel is that, for all of us who trust in the finished work of Jesus, God does not count our sins against us–he counts our sins against Christ!
Our own failure to grasp the gospel shows itself when we demand penance from those who have wronged us. Whatever offense I’ve received is infinitely smaller than the offense God has received from me. And since God has freely, fully, and unconditionally forgiven us in Christ (counting our sins against him) we should be quick and desirous to freely, fully, and unconditionally forgive.
There’s simply no better way to get people to contemplate God’s unfathomable love and grace than by granting them what he’s already granted.
That one started off sounding like the kid was gonna have to kill his sister and then his grandmother over a lousy duck, I love happy endings.
The other point to take away from this, to keep forgiveness in biblical perspective,
is NOT to forgive someone who does not ask for it. Or asks for forgiveness in the wrong spirit - ex. demands forgiveness by shoving our beliefs back in our face and says “You have to, you don’t have a choice!” That’s not a sincere mindset for forgiveness.
God forgives those who are truly sorry and understand they need it. He does not forgive those who do not think they need it or do not ask for forgiveness sincerely.
I disagree with your perspective on forgiveness very fiercely.
THAT’S GOD’S role and perspective to respond to humans according to the sincerity of their hearts seeking forgiveness and repentance.
HE CALLS US TO FORGIVE REGARDLESS.
. . . IF . . .
WE WANT FORGIVENESS.
The Lord’s Prayer is quite clear on that score.
FORGIVENESS IS FOR THE FORGIVER at the human level—spiritually and health-wise.
When I come to that spot in the Lord’s Prayer, I confess and pray—
Lord, I forgive everyone completely. I repent of having anything against anyone regardless.I repent of any and all unfitting critical judgment.
“Remember the duck.”
Wasn’t that the rallying cry for the Spanish-American War?
“That one started off sounding like the kid was gonna have to kill his sister and then his grandmother over a lousy duck, I love happy endings.”
That’s a different “gospel. . .” ;)
You bring up a good point, but in this story the grandson was already in the family, so to speak.
But he was afraid that he would be punished and therefore tried to his his sin. His sister was like Satan, playing on his fear that he would never be forgiven.
For those of us already adopted we often don’t fully trust that Christ died for ALL of our sin. We fret. We keep looking over our shoulder. We listen to Satan say that our sin is just too great for Christ’s sacrifice. This story is for those who just can’t really believe the Good News applies to them.
I join in your prayer, dear brother in Christ!
Sorry, I never use html, I bold one section and forget it won’t automatically keep my regular paragraphs.
God forgives those who are truly sorry and understand they need it.
True.
He does not forgive those who do not think they need it or do not ask for forgiveness sincerely.
True Again.
The other point to take away from this, to keep forgiveness in biblical perspective, is NOT to forgive someone who does not ask for it.
Not true.
(For example, they) demand forgiveness by shoving our beliefs back in our face and says “You have to, you don’t have a choice!” That’s not a sincere mindset for forgiveness.
That still demands that we forgive.
But I think that your point is that the person who does this will not receive the very thing that they are demanding from you. Even if you did forgive them, the real problem is that they will still not be biblically “reconciled” to you. That would be correct, but still, forgiving is required. Reconcillation would be impossible with that person is ALSO true, until it is REAL forgivness that they do ask for in humility, NOT as a demand.
I agree. Satan is called the "accuser of the brethren" for a reason!
HE CALLS US TO FORGIVE REGARDLESS
. . . IF . . .
WE WANT FORGIVENESS
for ourselves
- - -
hear hear
We are to imitate God. We forgive as God forgives. He does not give us higher standards than He Himself has. As He does not forgive others without repentance, we as imitators of God, follow His example.
If we forgive people who are not repentant and continue to keep sinning, they will encourage others to sin as well. Look at what we have with the homosexuals right now. Further if you forgive people who don’t believe they need it and hate you for ‘judging’ they need it, just the same as those who are truly repentant, you have just done a major disservice to those who are truly repentant and are asking for forgiveness.
And you have to ignore the verse of Luke I mentioned. Which confirms for us the way God forgives us, we are to forgive others. If the way God forgives is perfect and we areto be perfect like the Father, and we know God does not give us a higher standard that He has for Himself, we are clear we are to forgive in the same way (as) the Father has forgiven us. If God forgave the unrepentant everyone would be saved and in Heaven.
It is not however giving up our right to justice or seeing the person deal with the consequences of their actions.
I think that you are talking about a “brother” in the verse you quote.
I read a “brother” as a fellow Christian. A fellow Christina SHOULD ask to be forgiven. Yes. But a person who does not bear the fruit of a Christian? Or an unbeliever? No, they do not know enough to ask, never mind the humility to consider it.
So, if you have your example of a “brother” who thinks that they can DEMAND you to forgive them, without their showing ANY repentance, well,what can a decent person say? Yes, forgive them UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE NOT SHOWING TRUE FELLOWSHIP. This person is not showing ANY fruit whatsoever.
Conduct your affairs around this person with that FACT in mind.
Of course, if the offense is a crime, against the law, then the offender SHOULD face justice. I am talking about our responsibility for not wanting our own form of revenge. In most cases, we face the types of offenses that are not concerning the law but are more personal. In both cases, though, we should forgive - release ourselves really - from the need or desire to get even for the wrong.
Don't you think there is a major difference between when people trespass against us versus them trespassing against God and his standards? I can say homosexual acts are wrong and are against God's standards. But when a person commits this act - not against our will or to us - their sin is against God and it is not our job to forgive them.
I have had people wrong me terribly, and they have never asked for forgiveness, but I have forgiven them simply by releasing myself from their hold over me by the offenses. I chose to forgive and put it in God's hands to convict them of their sin because He is the one truly offended.
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