While some would say otherwise, I agree with you that forgiveness isn’t necessarily aligned with reconciliation. We can completely forgive someone, holding no ill feelings whatever, but still not desire a close friendship.
On the other hand, I think of God’s forgiveness and His complete removal of the cause and His desire for intimate fellowship. Should our attitude be the same? Should the wrong be so far removed that it is as if it never happened? I believe that is possible, so it produces another question: Should our love for the other person, and the desire for reconciliation be as His?
Without forgiveness, I could not be who I am.
Grace is an amazing thing.
The biggest grace I have other than being forgiven by Christ,
is that He has graced me to be able to forgive also.
I agree that God is always about fellowship.
It is my belief that after that grace of forgiveess is given,
I need not put myself back into fellowship with my abusers.
I love them. Why? Because Jesus does.
Everyone’s circumstances are different and the Holy Spirit is
faithful to guide us where we need to go.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for joining in.
I look forward to getting to know you and your story better.
I think we can forgive – and yes, a person can be completely healed from whatever “sin” they committed, but we need to use common sense. My father sexually abused me – if he were still alive today, I would not let my daughter be alone with him –
I agree.
This is where every situation is different.
We must forgive, and then use the common sense that the Lord gives us.
We must not put ourselves or others in the same danger that we were in.
The responsibility for forgiving is our own.
We want the joy in our lives to reflect out to help others.
I agree Heather. As one who was extremely abused for the first 22 years of my life, I can say I have no ill feelings towards my abusers, but common sense says I would be very wary about leaving my children or any vulnerable person alone with them.
Yep, it is a choice and it does not mean absolution. We forgive to free ourselves. Our abusers or those who hurt us will still have to answer to God.
Thanks for this post.
Significant Encounters 
While some would say otherwise, I agree with you that forgiveness isn’t necessarily aligned with reconciliation. We can completely forgive someone, holding no ill feelings whatever, but still not desire a close friendship.
On the other hand, I think of God’s forgiveness and His complete removal of the cause and His desire for intimate fellowship. Should our attitude be the same? Should the wrong be so far removed that it is as if it never happened? I believe that is possible, so it produces another question: Should our love for the other person, and the desire for reconciliation be as His?
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Without forgiveness, I could not be who I am.
Grace is an amazing thing.
The biggest grace I have other than being forgiven by Christ,
is that He has graced me to be able to forgive also.
I agree that God is always about fellowship.
It is my belief that after that grace of forgiveess is given,
I need not put myself back into fellowship with my abusers.
I love them. Why? Because Jesus does.
Everyone’s circumstances are different and the Holy Spirit is
faithful to guide us where we need to go.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for joining in.
I look forward to getting to know you and your story better.
LikeLike
I think we can forgive – and yes, a person can be completely healed from whatever “sin” they committed, but we need to use common sense. My father sexually abused me – if he were still alive today, I would not let my daughter be alone with him –
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I agree.
This is where every situation is different.
We must forgive, and then use the common sense that the Lord gives us.
We must not put ourselves or others in the same danger that we were in.
The responsibility for forgiving is our own.
We want the joy in our lives to reflect out to help others.
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Amen
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I agree Heather. As one who was extremely abused for the first 22 years of my life, I can say I have no ill feelings towards my abusers, but common sense says I would be very wary about leaving my children or any vulnerable person alone with them.
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Yep, it is a choice and it does not mean absolution. We forgive to free ourselves. Our abusers or those who hurt us will still have to answer to God.
Thanks for this post.
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Very good words… thanks and God bless.
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