Something I have found to be dangerous that is ruining Christian life’s, Churches, and the world around us is unforgiveness. This very thing is one of the most dangerous things. But in order to realize what unforgiveness is we must first understand what forgiveness is.
Forgiveness broken down is a process in which the victim voluntarily goes through. The victim undergoes a change in their feelings and attitude toward a certain offense. The victim lets go of negative emotions such as revenge. However, many people struggle with such a process because they seemingly associate forgiveness with other words in which mean something totally different.
1. Forgiveness is not Condoning
Condoning something is failing to see a certain action as wrong and thus allowing it to continue or turning a blind eye while knowing a certain action or offense is happening.
2. Forgiveness is not Excusing
Excusing is not holding the offender responsible for a certain action. Thus being free from any correction, reprimand, punishment, or discipline.
3. Forgiveness is not Forgetting
Forgetting is the action of removing the offense from mind. Removing the awareness of a certain offense that has taken place by a certain person.
4. Forgiveness is not Pardoning
Pardoning is when an offense is acknowledged but the offender is free from punishment.
5. Forgiveness is not Reconciliation
Reconciliation is the process of restoring what has been broken. Forgiving someone does not mean that you are forced to have the exact same relationship with the offender.
These are the five words that people assume are connected to forgiveness and is a reason people tend to not forgive. I believe though if we can finally realize what forgiveness is and is not we can find ourselves forgiving more often than not.
Unforgiveness will make people spiritual weak and prayers ineffective. It will put a damper on your faith so much that your Christian walk will start to deteriorate.
Verse passage: Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” – NIV
In this passage Jesus tells them when they pray to forgive anyone they hold anything against. Jesus didn’t say to try and forgive. Jesus said to forgive. There was no options. It was forgive. Not sometimes when you feel like it, not only under certain situations. Jesus said to forgive when we pray. Forgive period.
Jesus in this passage laid out a command for believers to do. Jesus would not and does not command us to do things we cannot do. Rest assured that forgiveness is within you to do. No matter how badly you’ve been hurt. We will never truly recover from any offense if we can’t forgive.
I think there are times we don’t forgive because we don’t want to get hurt again and sometimes we feel that if we forgive we have to have a relationship with that person again. And sometimes I believe people think if they forgive then they are weak. Being a afraid of getting hurt again or being perceived as weak are signs of fear. I firmly believe that people do not forgive because somewhere inside they are afraid of something. We cannot let fear take control of us.
Forgiveness sets you free of fear, negative emotions, feelings, thoughts, and reactions. Let go and let God heal you from your hurt.
God bless
Spirit Warrior Ministry 