What is forgiveness?

I think this concept of forgiveness is very misunderstood
and misused these days. Forgiveness does NOT mean no
consequences for actions. For instance, if your child lies
to you you might forgive him, but that does not mean you
automatically trust him to the same degree as before. Also
forgiveness in the Bible is always coupled with repentance.
When Jesus said to forgive "seventy times seven" He also
said that the prerequisite was the offending brother come
and ask for that forgiveness.

This is important because I see Christians going around
saying we shouldn't hold people responsible for their sins
because we ought to forgive. Forgiving is a heart
attitude. It is deciding to not hold a grudge against
another person. Ive heard women talk about forgiving
someone who did awful things to them, all torn up because
they think that means they shouldn't file legal charges
against the man. This is a twisted view of the wonderful
thing that forgiveness really is. Forgiveness is actually
the action of deciding not to hold hatred in your heart
towards that person.

Sometimes we think we have to be doormats as Christians.
Jesus didnt seem to feel that way when He drove the
merchants out of the Temple with a whip. He also didnt seem
to feel that way when He told the woman He saved from
stoning to "Go and SIN NO MORE."

God is love, but He is also Holiness and Justice. Let's
not forget these other attributes of God as well.

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