tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post2870122320752631299..comments2024-03-23T13:45:19.208-04:00Comments on Serene Musings: Christian ForgivenessScotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10535260741343975445noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-6197996289973599392010-03-11T02:16:54.968-05:002010-03-11T02:16:54.968-05:00Fred: Thanks for the kind remarks. As C.S. Lewis ...Fred: Thanks for the kind remarks. As C.S. Lewis said, "We read to know we are not alone."Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535260741343975445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-28667335816622609592010-03-10T22:54:56.158-05:002010-03-10T22:54:56.158-05:00Scott,
I have general comment not necessarily pert...Scott,<br />I have general comment not necessarily pertaining to this post. I just wanted to say that I appreciate your musings, especially those related to Christianity. I think I am coming from a similar position so I find your writing thoughtful and refreshing. It is always nice to think that there is someone else with similar attitudes to myself.<br />Thanks<br />FredFredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17130125607109135131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-48193987646929663682010-02-22T10:20:13.274-05:002010-02-22T10:20:13.274-05:00Well, whatever it was, it worked.Well, whatever it was, it worked.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535260741343975445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-52270483652386477982010-02-22T09:58:08.889-05:002010-02-22T09:58:08.889-05:00I'm just doing a little test. Don't mind ...I'm just doing a little test. Don't mind me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-59160093476368569152010-02-21T20:25:32.323-05:002010-02-21T20:25:32.323-05:00Thanks for continuing the dialogue, Allen.
I tot...Thanks for continuing the dialogue, Allen. <br /><br />I totally agree with your points about forgetting. As I said in the essay, we're human beings, not robots. Obviously when someone wrongs us (particularly a significant "wronging"), the memory will likely remain. I remember, for instance, a lot of hurtful things people said to me in high school. But the difference, as you allude to, is the emotional state attached to the memory. Forgiveness doesn't necessarily mean forgetting in a literal sense, but "forgetting" in the sense of no longer hanging on to it like a grudge.<br /><br />I also like your point that by "remembering graciously," we can come to not just give complete forgiveness to the person who wronged us, but learn to appreciate the difficulty of the situation as an avenue of personal growth. In that sense, the literal memory can become a healing experience rather than a grudge. This speaks to the "synergy" of forgiveness I mentioned near the end of the essay - it's a give and take. Give forgiveness, take peace. But, as I argued, the "give" comes first. <br /><br />And of course, as you noted, the Biblical model is just that - a model for us. Since we're humans and not robots (or gods), it stands to reason that we won't always achieve the standard Jesus suggested. Jesus, I believe, recognized this as well as anyone. His standard is the kingdom of heaven. Our challenge is to make his vision of the kingdom of heaven a reality on earth.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535260741343975445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-58302297056708846962010-02-21T16:59:46.509-05:002010-02-21T16:59:46.509-05:00"Despite the familiar cliche, 'forgive an..."Despite the familiar cliche, 'forgive and forget,' most of us find forgetting nearly impossible. Forgiveness does not involve a literal forgetting. Forgiveness involves remembering graciously. The forgiver remembers the true though painful parts, but without the embellishment of angry adjectives and adverbs that stir up contempt"(Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet, PhD).<br /><br />First of all, I am humbled, but I turn to experience in pastoral care where I've come to find that it is freeing for a person to forgive without forgetting, in this sense that we instead work towards "remembering graciously" instead. Take a woman I've cared for who wanted to forgive her husband for cheating on her, but couldn't forget it. So we decided not to, and try to approach it as remembering it without dwelling on the hurt and anger. And I think once we started approaching it that way, she actually got closer to forgiving.<br /><br />Indeed the Bible tells us to forgive as God forgives, but balancing that with what modern psychology teaches us, though it's ideal, maybe it's not always realistic, because after all ... we're not God.<br /><br />Again, thanks for the blog. I'm humbled.the Rev'd C. Allen Colwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03098190339515571961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-677224181185284832010-02-21T16:57:26.850-05:002010-02-21T16:57:26.850-05:00Yeah, but you read my diary, you little shit!Yeah, but you read my diary, you little shit!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-59944693635000577152010-02-21T16:32:37.891-05:002010-02-21T16:32:37.891-05:00That's funny. It's because I love MILF...That's funny. It's because I love MILF's. <br /><br />That's funny about the transformer's watch. I think that's my apology to you, not the other way around :)<br /><br />Now, as for sins I haven't forgiven you for, breaking my back across the footboard comes to mind.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535260741343975445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-60499856388657151732010-02-21T15:32:17.750-05:002010-02-21T15:32:17.750-05:00If you are so forgiving, why haven't you ever ...If you are so forgiving, why haven't you ever forgiven me for breaking your Transformers watch?<br /><br />Oh, I KNOW! Because I didn't! And you framed me for it anyway! I have failed to forget! :)<br /><br />BTW, just so's you know, when I read this post in my Google Reader there was an advert for a MATURE SINGLES dating service at the end. WTF?<br /><br />~ElissaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com