I've been thinking quite a lot about forgiveness recently and even preached a sermon on it a couple of weeks ago.Josh wrote:I am unsure why a Christian person would think forgiveness from a victim should mean the law would enact a lesser sentence.
Something is very wrong if our culture and doctrines are leading people to think that way.
I agree that we need more teaching on issues that pertain to the breaking of laws and how we as Christians and churches handle such things.
However, I think I can understand how people could come to the understanding that confessing ones sins and receiving forgiveness in most cases does affect the consequences that would justly be ours to endure for the rest of our lives, if there was no such thing as forgiveness. I think all of us would agree that we are ever so grateful that God did not take the approach: "I'm going to forgive you, but you must still bear the full and just consequences of all the sins you have ever committed".
I believe in areas like sexual abuse and other heinous acts one should realize that there are lawful consequences that will accompany such deeds and that forgiveness from the law is not something to be expected. Having said that, I think we all, as followers of Jesus, do well to check our hearts to make sure we are not using the just legal consequences of committing such deeds to justify an unforgiving spirit on our part against the perpetrators of those deeds. We, as followers of Jesus, should be accepting, but never happy, that anyone has to go through the consequences of what the law justly requires in such cases.
Just to be clear Josh, I don't think that is what you are doing in your post. I actually agree with it.
A sobering reminder of the importance of forgiveness. Notice especially the warning in verse 35. I really do not want all of my wrongdoings to be restored to my account because of a lack of forgiveness on my part!
Matthew 18:21-35 NKJV 21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 "And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 "But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' 29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 "So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 "Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 'Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
