FORGIVENESS

I have read many writings, compositions, studies and opinions in connection with this notion. I was astonished to experience that this may be one of the questions which means an enormous abyss between us and our surroundings’ way of thinking. To make a bridge established between these two, we need no smaller thing than the same God-picture. While the same way of thinking doesn’t join us, the truth can’t gain common ground or it only seems to be as lifeless arguing. But the followings are essential to mention about the truth:

God can’t forgive since he can’t be angry.
Forgiveness is preceded by the offended disposition.
Where does the Bible talk about that Jesus who struggle with forgiveness?
He came among us, among sinners. The place where He came from hasn’t got anger so He didn’t bring offence.
In heaven there is no aversion to love.

Let’s look into ourselves to see how God helps us and what a grace is to have this kind of manifestation of love in our lives!

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5.7

If a man realizes the essence of this word, he will confront with that it says the same as: love your fellow human beings as you love yourself (as it is said in every divine statement).

Forgiveness is preceded by nothing else but the offended disposition.

If I feel God’s emanated grace to me (as everyone receives it), it calls me upon to have the right attitude to my fellow human beings, as God does the same to me.
 There is a wonderful example for it in the Bible when the servant whose debts have been cancelled but calls his debtor to account.

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. Be patient with me, he begged, and I will pay back everything. The servant’s master took pity on him, cancelled the debt and let him go. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.” Matthew 18.23-30

Let’s examine ourselves where we are in this! Everybody’s debts have been cancelled. Have we done the same?

The real forgiveness must be directed primarily to ourselves! How could we forgive to anybody if we have debts to ourselves?

Forgiveness doesn’t mean to cancel the debts of the people who are smaller, “worse” or “have more sins” than us but it means to see ourselves in them, to see that we are not better than them. Indeed, if we realize our own weaknesses and debts, we will grow in Christ and Christ will grow in us by God’s grace.

By being angry, we put so many loads onto our shoulders that hinder us in developing to God. Anger is such a kind of spiritual barrier which, on the path leading to God, has been put up by us. It can be demolished by forgiveness.

The Apostles asked Jesus too how many times they had to forgive. Everybody knows the answer: seventy-seven times, as many times as someone asks you to forgive.

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18.21-22

We don’t have to talk about what we should do if someone offends us or what we should do if we offend others without affront. If they throw you with stones, you must love your enemies. And if we see other Christian teachings, we must understand that we have to become living in our lives and we have to accept ourselves. And the most important is to feel that: as you measure for someone, you will be measured the same way as well.

We are humans but if we make shift with learning and practicing forgiveness, we forget one important thing. The purpose is the disposition which can’t be offended humanly. By faith, the humbleness in it holds such a shield in front of itself that hides its greatness in being free from struggling with criticism. There is no own-risk because it devotes itself to God, to its Creator who takes care of it. We can ask where the pleasure is if we submit ourselves to the service for others. The answer is simple. While we are asking this, it is nowhere. But by experiencing it, it is everywhere we go.

My Father! Be blessed for ever! Implant me with life, please, make me able to realize You in everything! I wish for humbled-disposition my Father! Please my Lord help me to accept everybody before me to get a chance for being called to the front where I can see your face!