FORGIVENESS - Your Responses
Last week I shared with you a story of an ice cream truck driver who was allegedly beaten very badly by 3 men for no apparent reason other than he is black, and they are white. He stated that he did not forgive the act, but he could forgive them. I asked for your thoughts on the issue from a Biblical perspective. All of the responses were relevant and Biblically sound. I have decided to list some of them in this week's online.
Mary wrote in part: "It is very evident that we are still living in a prejudiced world, but Jesus said in Luke 23:34, 'Father forgive these people, because they don't know what they are doing." Mary went on to tell me about a white co-worker who had been taught by his father to dislike blacks. He later found the Lord and changed his attitude about Blacks. He forgave his biological father and asked his Heavenly Father to forgive him.
Pat referred to Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. She also used Matthew 5:39, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. She concluded with Ephesians 4:15, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."
Andrea agreed with Mary in using Luke 23:34. She stated that "we should forgive others as our Heavenly Father has forgiven us."
Brenda said that "in order to forgive, you must decide to let go of the offense and free the offender. Let go of thoughts of anger and revenge. Trust God to deal with your offender. 'Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord (Romans 12:19)". She goes on to say that "God will handle those who hurt you, but in His own time and His own way." She refers to Galatians 6:7. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, what a man sows that he will also reap."
Sarah stated that out of all of the Scriptures on forgiveness, Romans 12:17-21 is especially meaningful to her. "Never pay back evil for evil"...never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God..." "Don't let evil get the upper hand but conquer evil by doing good."
Two of Dena's favorite passages are Matthew 18:21,22 and Psalm 138:7,8. "Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matt 18)
And in Psalm 138, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me: You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands."
I have not listed all of the Scriptures that you sent, but I think you have been given the gist of what we believe. In essence, we believe what the Bible says. In that regard, we should applaud the attitude of the ice cream truck driver. I think God will be pleased with him.
