Considering both our study, Repenting of Religion, and our approaching the beginning of a new year, I think the following video is worth a view.
“Finding Peace in Surrender” – Jordan Peterson (38:55)
Today is a good day to start anew. Not with some new diet or exercise plan, but with a new perspective on the judgments we make and the resulting actions or inactions from those judgments. First, in our relationship with God. By surrendering to Him through Christ, we receive His forgiveness and start anew.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21, ESV)
In addition to reconciling with God, we are given the message of reconciliation with others. From this, we must learn forgiveness for one another and stop seeking retribution or vengeance against those who we feel have wronged or sinned against us.
“Forgive and forget” is not biblical. Several verses command us to “forgive one another” (e.g., Matthew 6:14 and Ephesians 4:32). Conversely, unwillingness to forgive others will hinder one’s fellowship with God (Matthew 6:15). This will cause only bitterness and loss of reward (Hebrews 12:14–15).
Like agape love, forgiveness is a decision of the will. God commands us to forgive; therefore, we must make a conscious choice to forgive. The one who offends you may not seek forgiveness and may never change their ways, but that doesn’t eliminate God’s desire for us to possess a forgiving spirit (Matthew 5:44).
As for forgetting, forgiveness is not reconciliation. Forgiveness is about not holding the other person’s sins against them any longer. Reconciliation involves overcoming a broken trust. These situations change the dynamics of a broken relationship. One must take precautions, and sometimes the relationship may never be reconciled.
“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” (Proverbs 22:3).
Jesus told His followers to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16). When associating with unrepentant sinners, we must be “innocent” (willing to forgive) yet “wise” (being cautious). Ideally, the offender will seek reconciliation, but, if not, as the one wronged, we must still decide to forgive.
True repentance results in changed actions (Luke 3:8–14; Acts 3:19); however, changing hearts is God’s business, and, until an offender has a true, supernatural heart change, it is only wise to limit the level of trust one places in that person. Being cautious doesn’t mean we haven’t forgiven. It simply means we are not God, and we cannot see that person’s heart. Agape love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5) and “covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
Let us pray for the ability to start this new year with a heart for forgiveness for all and reconciliation where wise and appropriate.
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31, ESV)