The Art of Forgivness: Part 1

What passes as forgivness today is not biblical forgivness, but a neo-absolution that has been Ophrasized into an emotional colonic for the offended party. What is missing is the belief in making moral judgments, and the un-comfortable act of "Confrontation". Somehow, if we just close our eyes and imagine ourselves releasing all the "anger" (which is the real problem of course!), we will have redeemed not the enemy, but ourselves. Forgivness is not for the offended but for the offender, and it's purpose is not about ridding ourselves of bad feelings although it may do just that. Forgivness is about accountability and restoration of divine to human, human to divine, and human to human relationships. The concept of forgivness has become subjectified by how I feel about what has been done to me, rather than ,what does God command I do about what has been done to me. The world today has rejected the absolutes of a holy God for personal moral opinon (moral relativism), so it is no surprise that it's concept of forgivness is objectively useless. Although many may see forgivness as a subjective religious act, how society (i.e. legislators,Courts,Judges,Juries,Clergy) view accountability have profound implications for all. For the Christain that may be tempted to think I am being to "judgmental" on this topic, lets look at the greatest example of forgiveness. Is there any passage in the New Testament that indicates Jesus went to the cross to ease his emotional suffering over the countless sins of his creations? When Jesus was being led to the cross he did not tell the women who were weeping to pray for him, but to pray for themselves and their children (luke 23:28). Please read Mathew 23 and 24. Jesus is pronouncing judgment on the very nation he came to die for. He declared that their temple (the holiest site in all Jerusalem) would be destroyed, and that not one stone would be left upon another. How is that for confrontation! He rebukes them, he weeps for them, heals them, teaches them, feeds them, and last of all dies for them and us as well. During Christ ministry to his people he continually warned them to repent. After his death, burial, and resurrection they were given forty years to accept God's Son, and in the end the nation rejected him and was destroyed by the Romans. God's call to his people and those he invites to repent is succinct. He gives everything to save us (Christ crucified), he gives everything when he saves us (the absolution of our sins and union with him), or he gives us the fullness of his wrath (the refusal of his love and presence) when we refuse to acknowledge our sin, and accept his offering in Christ for our sins. Christ died as an offering of sin. The scriptures say, "while we were enemies, Christ died for us" (rm 5:8). The offering was made before the sinners repentance, but the pardon is not actualized until we repent and believe in Christ work on the cross. Patients and longsuffering with the offending party should not be confused with forgivness, or an excuse for not holding someone accountable. If we are to forgive as we have been forgiven we must understand this important distinction.