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Can we truely worship God in Spirit and in truth if we have an ought against our brother or sister?
Can we love God and hate our brother and sister?
And have we really forgiven if we say, "I forgive him, but I never want to have anything to do with him." What if God treated us that way? " I forgive you my child, "but I'll never bless you or answer your prayers again"....what kind of forgiveness would that be?
Thank God he is not like man....
No.Originally Posted by shayla
Forgiveness doesn't mean we have to fellowship with someone after they're forgiven. If a man molested your child, would you forgive him? Would you let him babysit your child?And have we really forgiven if we say, "I forgive him, but I never want to have anything to do with him." What if God treated us that way? " I forgive you my child, "but I'll never bless you or answer your prayers again"....what kind of forgiveness would that be?
I sure hope not. Forgiveness does not equal trust. Trusting someone who has not proven themselves to be trustworthy is not forgiveness. It's stupidity.
Member
You made a very valid point about forgiveness of the child molester and I agree with you. However, i was referring to forgiveness of Christians in the same congregation who are mainly not reconciling differences because of stubborn pride. And are at odds because of misunderstandings...yet still feel like they are pleasing and worshipping GOD, while holding a grudge.
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble...
God said his disciples would be known because of the love we have for one another.
When Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother if he sins against him, up to seven times? But Jesus said, no 70 times 7...that means God wants us to forgive...
Though I also agree that you don't have to have a close relationship, but if we are Christians(Christ-Like, the Spirit of GOD living on the inside), we should be able to forgive one another.
Last edited by shayla; Mar 23rd 2009 at 10:38 PM. Reason: mispell
Ahh, I see what you're saying now. In that case, I completely agree with you.
Living in His Love!
Hey folks, I'll just move this over to Maturing in Christ. It might get noticed better there, for being the topic that it is -- learning how best to worship our Lord.
-- Your ~sister~ in Christ.... a "Kaffinated Kittykat"!!
ROMANS 5:8. Forgiven. Freed. Humbled. Amazed. Grateful. Relying on Christ.
Love is not a place to come and go as we please
It's a house we enter in, then commit to never leave
So lock the door behind you, and throw away the key
We'll work it out together, let it bring us to our knees.....
Warren Barfield
Member
Good idea coffeecat, thanx.
Living in His Love!
And in response to the thread so far..... I know it's a hard topic, forgiveness. But I've experienced firsthand the effects of what happens when someone holds onto unforgiveness and hard-heartedness. I did it for years, and as a result, I honestly didn't have a hope of knowing or learning how to worship and love God because my own unforgiveness blinded me to what forgiveness really WAS -- especially the forgiveness Christ offered. I couldn't understand it.
I believe with all my heart that Christ helped me to forgive first, even before I asked Him for forgiveness and redemption and a changed heart. I was one of those very stubborn cases, and it took a long while for me to let Him do any work in me...... but He worked on my heart, softened it enough for me to let Him in, and I was honestly AMAZED at the changes He started to make. When He saved me, for the first time in my life, I started to begin to understand forgiveness. And to understand that the beauty of forgiveness is that not only is it freeing.... it also isn't fair. It's mercy, undeserved. It's love, and a second chance. Or a tenth chance.
I was finally able to start the process of forgiveness, in my own life..... and only then did I really start to be able to worship God. I've seen the connection ever since, and I think it's so important to ask God for help in forgiving those who have trespassed against us. It opens us up to the freedom to grow and mature in Christ, because He... as sinless as He was.... forgave us when we trespassed against Him.
-- Your ~sister~ in Christ.... a "Kaffinated Kittykat"!!
ROMANS 5:8. Forgiven. Freed. Humbled. Amazed. Grateful. Relying on Christ.
Love is not a place to come and go as we please
It's a house we enter in, then commit to never leave
So lock the door behind you, and throw away the key
We'll work it out together, let it bring us to our knees.....
Warren Barfield
Grand Master
Sometimes it's really hard to forgive in some circumstances. Some times these can not be over-come without the presence of alot of love from God working in our lives and slowly but gently sorting the problems out. These things take time, but God is faithful if we truely believe in his power and ability to save and heal those who love him.
Paul addresses this when discussing communion. He says that because of people taking communion while they are holding grudges against one another, some are dead. That kind of settles, at least in my mind, what God thinks about divisions in His church.
For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived? ~ Deuteronomy 5:26
If you're not prepared to risk your very life for your "enemy" you have no right to speak to him of love. ~ Daughter
Many say they are called... but I am pretty convinced that with many of them it was the wrong number. ~ Project Peter
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urban Cowboy,
I couldn't agree with you more. God hates division. Division of God's people is of the devil.
Its up to us who are alive in Christ to bridge the gap and restore out brothers and sisters to fellowship.
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