Forgiveness. Why is it such a hard thing?

In a recent USA Today article on the subject made the point that we are not a forgiving country. In our ME society, forgiveness is a forgotten art. “It’s so hard for us today because it’s not the sort of thing we’re used to doing,”  asserts Baylor professor Robert Roberts (I don’t think he’s ye t forgiven his parents yet for naming him ROBERT Roberts!).

The article also goes on to note that: 

“Clergy and scholars who study forgiveness say it is not a saintly act beyond ordinary folks’ capacity but rather a vital skill that can be mastered with practice.”

Wow, that seems to boil it down to something that has nothing to do with the grace and power that the Lord grants us. Left to my own selfish desires, I’d never forgive. I’ll just grow more bitter and self-absorbed. I think its not due to practice, it’s because of the Lord. Forgiveness isn’t a 12 step process - it’s a journey to be walked through with the Lord. (What’s next? Are we earning our way into Heaven?)

On our own, we just don’t have the capacity to forgive. I think we can bury it or ignore it, but not truly walk through it and come out the other side. It’s our dependece and walk with Christ that makes it possible.

But that may be just me. I’m weak and depraved and in need of a Savior every day.

So what about you, O saints of God? Any thoughts? Any struggles?

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 19th, 2006 at 6:32 am and is filed under Adam LaRoche, Blogroll, Church, christians, forgive, forgiveness, youth ministry.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.