| NOVEMBER 1, 2025 -- Who is a God like You, Forgiving iniquity And remitting transgression - Not staying angry forever [Micah 7:18]
You shall neither take revenge from nor bear a grudge against the members of your people; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. [Leviticus 19:18]
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. [Matthew 6:14-15]
And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation – his reward is [due] from Allah. [Quran 42:40]
The concept of forgiving pervades all three Abrahamic religions. Buddhism also preaches the path of forgiveness. Closely tied to forgiving is the concept of repentance. Open forgiveness should always be given when the sinner repents, but the theologians disagree over whether one should show open forgiveness towards those who do not repent. I believe it is better for one’s own mental and spiritual health when you are willing to forgive others in your heart, whether or not they show repentance, but probably it is better not to do so openly to those who do not repent. Thinking they will be or are forgiven whether or not they repent may instead encourage them to continue in their sinful ways, thinking there is no penalty in so doing.
So, true forgiveness should follow true repentance. There is one more step to the process, one that some people find most difficult. That is reconciliation. Remember that we are told to “love your neighbor as yourself”. Thus it is not enough merely to forgive those who are truly repentant. We must bring them back into the circle of true love and friendship, make them again a part of the family [the larger, human, family to which we all belong]. Reconciliation is a two-way process, and a continuing process. The first step must come from the person who is forgiven, showing that they are truly repentant, and asking to be brought back into relationship. It is difficult to genuinely restore a broken relationship when the offender is unclear about his confession and repentance. But once that has happened then it is the duty of the other party to move towards total reconciliation.
|
