Forgiveness (Part 2)

“Send It Away So You Can Love Again!”

          A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog about “Forgiveness.”  I’d like to continue that thought and answer a few questions with it.  I mentioned that the Greek word so often translated forgiveness is the word “aphiami,” meaning to send away.  When we forgive, we are sending the matter away into God’s hands.  We are reminded that if we don’t forgive others, that God won’t forgive us. (Matthew 6:14-15)  We are reminded in Scripture that only God is holy and just so vengeance is His. (Romans 12:19)  Only he can judge rightly and correctly.

          So, when someone hurts us and we forgive them, are we saying that what they did to us is OK?  Because God has instilled in us a sense of knowing what is right and what is wrong, we get bothered when evil appears to triumph.  Our sense of righteous indignation comes out and we want God to act and stand up for us.  Many times, we hope that God would punish them or strike them with a bolt of lightning.  But when we hold on to those feelings, we really haven’t sent the matter away to God.  Forgiveness does not condone sin, it simply allows God room to work in the situation.  Forgiveness doesn’t contradict our sense of what is right or wrong.  God has placed that sense of right and wrong in our hearts. and remember, God knows what everyone needs.  Who are we to correct God or counsel God.  Give God the freedom to handle the situation.  Leave the matter in God’s hands and trust Him.

          And finally, some have said you need to “Forgive and Forget.”  First of all, I’m not sure that is found in the Bible. (God does choose to remember our sins no more – Hebrews 8:12)  And physiologically I really think the only way to forget is to have a brain injury or to develop dementia.  God has given to us a mind and part of the mind remembers things.  However, the more we dwell on an issue the larger it becomes.  The less we dwell on an issue (because we’ve sent it away into God’s hands) the less prominent the item is in our memory.  There have been times when people have come up to me and they have asked me to forgive them for something they did to me.  And on some occasions, I can’t remember the event.  My memory may need to be jogged so that I can recall the event.  To some extent forgiveness takes the sting away from the event and the person.  Forgiveness allows me to still love the person who has hurt me.  And I would rather remember loving the person than the painful injury I may have sustained.  So choose to forgive.  You’ll be glad you did!

In Deepest Christian Love,

Pastor Steve VanAmburg