Skip to main content

Forgiveness


          Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)

          According to the Mayo Clinic, the benefits of forgiveness include:
·                     Healthier relationships.
·                     Improved mental health.
·                     Less anxiety, stress, and hostility.
·                     Lower blood pressure.
·                     Fewer symptoms of depression.
·                     A stronger immune system.
·                     Improved heart health.
·                     Improved self-esteem.[1]
          On the other hand, they describe the benefits of holding a grudge as:
·                     Bringing anger and bitterness into every relationship and new experience
·                        Becoming so wrapped up in the wrong that you can't enjoy the present
·                        Becoming depressed or anxious
·                        Feeling that your life lacks meaning or purpose, or that you're at odds with your spiritual beliefs
·                        Losing valuable and enriching connectedness with others[2]
I would add that not forgiving chains one to the person or thing that is not forgiven. The one whom we cannot forgive becomes, in effect, our god. That one and the unforgivable thing become the focus of our lives.
Once again, Paul seems to be giving advice that is in line with the findings of science. But of course, our case is always the exception. We fear that if we give up our hate, there will be no justice. We feel that if we forgive, we’re saying it didn’t matter, or didn’t hurt, or even that it was OK. But forgiveness does none of those things. Forgiveness unshackles you from the one who hurt you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Think About These Things

                 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) This passage is a major challenge for me. Like everyone else, I struggle to keep my thoughts from wandering off into the weeds, then wondering what possible benefits those weeds might have… Sigh. But as a writer, I have to delve at least a little into the ignoble, wrong, impure, unlovely, and debased. After all, there’s no story if everything’s just as it should be and everyone’s happy. As Christians, there are times when we need to deal with all the negatives, but that makes it even more important that we practice turning our minds by force of attention to what is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It’s just too easy to get stuck in a swamp. With my...
1 comment
Read more

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

Pure...

            The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (I Timothy 1:5)   I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16) I’m probably cheating - or mishandling the Bible, but earlier I was thinking about love being pure and purifying. And hatred being pure and purifying. And anger…joy…patience… fear… jealousy… courage…lust… and other strongly felt feelings, attitudes, and beliefs. Today’s verse brings purity and love together, so it’s the verse of the day, but it’s not really the focus. That means my motive for sharing it with you probably isn’t pure. As you read through my list, you   probably thought, “Yeah” about some, and “What’s she on?” about others. But consider how much hatred, a...
Post a Comment
Read more